Felt like we over-prepared: McCullum

England arrived into this Ashes series knowing it would be an existential assessment of their methods and their philosophy. After squandering an opportunity in the opening Test at Perth, a heavy defeat at The Gabba in the second has left Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in the unenviable position of having to rally their troops from 2-0 down.

By McCullum's own blunt assessment, England were found lacking in all three departments. "There were areas with the bat where we were deficient. There were areas with the ball where we were deficient. And there were areas in the field where we were deficient," he admitted, speaking to 7Cricket.

Much of the blame for England's downfall in both games has been pinned on their rigid batting approach built on a ceaseless attack without an apparent regard for match situations or conditions. McCullum noted that England had to be better at identifying risks with the bat and opportunities with the ball. "You've got to be quite malleable in your plans and your game, make sure that you're identifying what the level of risk is with the bat and identifying with the ball, your areas of opportunity. And if anything, we've probably been a little bit slow with that in the last two games," he conceded.

McCullum also claimed that he felt England were 'over-prepared' and suggested that they weren't mentally fresh heading into the second Test. "I think leading into this Test match, I actually felt like we over-prepared, to be honest. We had five intense training days. And I think sometimes when you're in the heat of the battle...the most important thing is to feel a little bit fresh and make sure your top two inches is completely sound," he noted.

"I think the boys just need a few days off and probably need to change up a few of the training methods a little bit. I'm a horse racing man and you wouldn't just keep doing the same thing with your horse. Would be good to spend a bit of time casually and just let the dust settle on what's been a pretty intense couple of weeks and start to plot and plan our way back into the series," he added.

"One is obviously the hostility, which you either shy away from or you lean into it and embrace it. And the other aspect is the conditions that you're confronted with in each ground is so different. So you've got to be very quick to adapt," he said on the challenges of playing in Australia.

It's only likely to get tougher for England as they attempt to bounce back from two crushing defeats. "I will stress that the message from the captain, the message from myself, you can't come to this country and start sulking and feeling sorry for yourself when things haven't worked out. You can't have a glass jaw when you tour Australia. You've got to stand up.

"You've got to go again. You've got to wear a few on the way in. And you've got to head towards the target. And that's our job over the next nine days to get ready for the next one," he said, emphasizing the importance of keeping spirits up within the camp.

"Over the last three and a half years, we've [Stokes and himself] grown to become not just a good working pair, but also very good mates as well. We have a very similar approach to the game. We're fiercely competitive, but like a relaxed environment, providing you have that competitiveness," he said. That working relationship will be paramount as they attempt to rally what will invariably be a deflated dressing room.

McCullum also defended his team's style and approach and said they wouldn't change simply because they are under pressure. "We don't like losing. As long as you're able to get your team to stay tight and keep pressing on with the style of play that you want and be able to handle situations a bit better, then you're going to give yourself the best chance. And that has not changed over three and a half years, I'm sure. And it won't change over the next few weeks just because we're under a bit of pressure," he affirmed.

"One thing that won't change is the language that we use within the dressing room, the way that we try and stay tight and cohesive as a group. And also when conditions allow, give ourselves the best opportunity to play the style of cricket. When they don't allow, then it's been brave enough and adaptable enough to be able to hang in there and absorb the pressure we need to," he added.

"If it was easy, then there wouldn't be as much fun. So look forward to it," he concluded with an unpunctured sense of spirit.