In the cold light of day, it can be argued that England beat the teams they should have beaten anyway.
The Gabba is the eighth defeat in England’s last 15 Tests. Away from home they have lost 10 of 14. There has been no victory in a five-Test series against Australia or India. If it is harsh to use a 4-1 defeat in India early last year as part of the judgement, India recently lost 3-0 at home to New Zealand and 2-0 to South Africa.
The Bazball empire is now at risk of capitulating. Before the series, it seemed that the defeat in Australia would not necessarily require changes, depending on the form of performance.
Losing 3-2 after the decider in Sydney is very different to losing 3-2 after being 3-0 down. England could still win (yes, I know). They could also lose 5-0.
Stokes and McCullum have contracts until the end of the next Ashes home in 2027. Rob Key manages them both. England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Richard Gould and chairman Richard Thompson will take the temperature of the public reaction, which is currently boiling.
Beyond management, the careers and reputations of the players are at stake. One wonders what they are saying in the locker room.
Is there enough honesty and maturity to hold each other to account? Is there room in the Bazball group to think that there might be another way of doing things?
After the Gabba defeat, Stokes and McCullum’s comments were as strong as they have been in their three-plus years in charge. For the two alphas to publicly question the mentality of the England team is something that could backfire later on the tour.
“A locker room that I captain is not a place for weak men,” Stokes said.
Aside from dragging down the England Lions rookies, who are being beaten by Australia A, England will have to rely on this group of players to salvage anything from the tour.
England have not signed a specialist back-up goalkeeper, so Smith is likely to remain in the firing line. There is no reserve specialist opener. Backup batsman Jacob Bethell has practically been on sabbatical, but at least he had 71 for the Lions on Sunday.
When a spinner is needed for the third Test in Adelaide, Australia can turn to Nathan Lyon’s 562 Test wickets. England will have to go for Bashir, chosen from a clip on social media and currently out of contract with the county. His numbers with the Lions were 0-115.
That third Test is more than a week away, at which point England will have to justify their holiday on the Sunshine Coast.
When they return from their joys, they will be tasked with keeping the Ashes alive after Christmas.
If it fails, it would be difficult to argue that this is not the worst Ashes tour undertaken by England in modern times.
