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Beyond the Aussies' most optimistic hopes could they have believed they'd find themselves leading two-nil in this Ashes series after playing only six days of play.

They were placed under severe pressure by England during the opener in Perth, then pulled off a remarkable reversal.

It put them on a wave of confidence going into the second Test, where they delivered England a lesson on playing Test cricket, particularly pink-ball matches.

Series on the Brink

The contest remains alive, however, it's not far from it. Should England fail to win the third Test, the situation could become embarrassing.

I got a close look of England's approach during the 2023 Ashes in the UK. For all of the discussion about this tour being their chance to finally win a victory in Australia, there was a lot of doubt in this country about the way the English team performs.

Would England's batting be appropriate for Australian conditions? Would they play aggressive strokes and discover methods to lose their wickets? Might they collapse when pressure mounted of the big moments?

At present, every one of the Australians who were sceptical regarding England are being proved right.

Attitude and Accountability

There exists a lot I admire regarding England's mindset. I love it when athletes compete fearlessly, as this enables them to extend the limits of potential.

But I don't like the idea that pressure or expectation needs to be removed. The great players excel when challenged, and top-tier teams hold each other are accountable.

"Indeed, there existed the coaches such as Simpson and John Buchanan, but it was the skipper and senior players who invariably managed the team environment."

Even when a young player, I believed I was allowed to voice my opinion. Everyone took responsibility for the squad's performance.

Then, if a player deviated from the standard, they faced consequences by the other players. If an individual committed an error on more than one occasion - an uncommon occurrence very often - they were told.

The Australian Blueprint

We had some huge personalities - no one more prominent than the legendary Shane Warne - yet we collectively believed that our actions served the team and our comrades. Matthew Hayden often stated we pulled together due to the affection we had for each other, so extensive was the amount of time we had as a group.

That sense of duty, obligation and adaptability all came together as we walked on to the field as a team.

Certainly, all of these things prove simpler while a side is winning, which England are currently not experiencing at this moment.

Examining the Approach

My worry regarding England was the message of "this is the way we play" fostered an environment deficient in personal responsibility.

It seemed as if England had concluded conditions had to adapt to them, instead of England adapting their game to suit the conditions.

Ultimately, in the aftermath of the defeat in Brisbane, it looks like realisation has dawned.

Captain Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum acknowledged problems exist, and they must take action about it.

I hold no problems with what the England leaders said in public after the Brisbane Test. If Stokes and McCullum have been strong in the media, one can be sure they have been forceful behind closed doors.

A New Version?

Will we now see an evolved form of Bazball? As I mentioned, I like the element of playing fearlessly. If England can incorporate the ingredients of embracing pressure and accountability, then they might still possess a viable formula.

Despite the fact England have faced criticism, Australia deserve significant credit for their performance.

If England had been told they would face an Australian side without all of their captain Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, they would have felt rubbing their hands with glee.

Nevertheless, Australia achieved a win at the Gabba with each of their other players standing up.

Key Performers for Australia

Pacer Mitchell Starc has been absolutely outstanding, ably assisted by Neser, Boland and Brendan Doggett.

Alex Carey delivered an absolute masterclass behind the stumps, possibly the best display of keeping I have witnessed - and I played with Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist.

Perhaps the biggest discovery for Australia is the shift in the batting order.

Prior to the contest, when it appeared to be a lot of discussion regarding Australia's lineup, I stated there was essentially just one question about one area - batter Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

That discussion is now resolved, simply not in a way anyone expected.

Settling the Order

Ever since Travis Head stuck his hand up to open following Khawaja's injury in Perth, Australia have looked like a different team. Now, it appears to be the opportunity for Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to establish themselves as the opening pair.

Khawaja could find it tough to get back in, despite the coach Andrew McDonald has indicated he might feature in the middle order.

Injuries and the Adelaide Test

Fitness issues will result in English speedster Mark Wood and Australia's Josh Hazlewood will miss the Adelaide Test and the rest of the series.

This represents an unfortunate situation for both athletes. I know the immense effort required to bowl quickly, the dedication involved in recovering from injuries, and how eager both players were to play a full part in this contest. They will be devastated.

Adelaide will provide a quality surface, offering something for batsmen and bowlers. Australia will undoubtedly reinstate spinner Lyon and it seems Cummins will be back to captain the side.

The Final Word

Australia will remember how England came from 2-0 down to draw the previous series. They are aware England poses a threat.

This time, they have England in a stranglehold and must not let up merely because key players are returning. They must avoid becoming overconfident.

An Australian side should always think it can win every Test it plays, so for that reason this team should be thinking about winning five-nil whitewash.

England will know they are compelled but to turn things around at Adelaide. Failure to do so, then it really could be a 5-0 series defeat.