England accept shortcomings in preparations after Ashes defeat
The tourists crashed to an 82-run loss at Adelaide Oval, their third successive loss in the five-match series after eight wicket defeated in Perth and Brisbane.
New Delhi: England fell well short of expectations collectively, admitted head coach Brendon McCullum, after surrendering the Ashes with a defeat in the third Test in Adelaide on Sunday.
The tourists crashed to an 82-run loss at Adelaide Oval, their third successive loss in the five-match series after eight wicket defeated in Perth and Brisbane.
England's decision to undertake light preparations and not play in tour matches in Australia was criticised heavily by former players and experts.
The team’s subsequent failure in the all the three Tests so far has put McCullum under pressure and he was quick to admit that preparations were flawed.
"It is disappointing when you lose and I'm sure there will be plenty of questions asked and rightfully so," McCullum told BBC.
"We haven't got everything right. I haven't got everything right as a coach and I put my hand up for that."
England opted to play one intra-squad match with England Lions in Perth and didn’t feel the need to play in warm-up games after defeats in the first two
Tests, similar to the kind of preparation they took for other tours, including to India and Pakistan last year.
"I have been very strong about the conviction we had and our preparation. For us, it was a matter of trying to replicate what we have done in series that have been successful for us away from home," McCullum said.
"Maybe we didn't get that right and I'll acknowledge that. Ultimately you are responsible for how you get your side ready and how you prepare them.
"We are 3-0 down so you would probably say there was room for change there."
‘Credit to Australia’
Though McCullum said England performed better in the last two days in Adelaide but accepted to have been outplayed in the matches overall so far.
"Credit goes to Australia. They have been as precise as a team as I have seen in the last few years. They put us under pressure throughout," he said.
"We only had fleeting moments in the last three test matches where we felt like we were on top. You accept that and you try to work out ways you can work and identify things you need to make sure to polish up on to give yourself more chance."
The fourth match begins on December 26 (Boxing Day) in Melbourne.