McCullum demands tourists double down despite collapse

Head coach hurt by manner of Perth defeat but confident his players can bounce back

- Simon Burnton

Brendon McCullum has called on England fans rocked by the team's calamitous two-day defeat by Australia in the first Ashes Test to "keep the faith", insisting the team's only chance of turning the series around was to double down on their methods.

"You've got to block out the doubts and the insecurities that can creep in," said the head coach, "because if that does happen then you literally have no chance."

The speed at which the game unravelled has left the team with some unexpected time off - though a few of those who were not required at Perth Stadium spent their Sunday playing for the Lions against an Australia XI at Lilac Hill - with management now deciding whether the best preparation for the second Test, which starts in Brisbane on 4 December, will involve sending some squad members to play in the Lions' next fixture, a daynighter against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra, or taking the entire group away for team bonding. "We've got to work out whether that extra cricket is the key, or making sure that camaraderie is tight and morale doesn't drop," McCullum said. "We've just got to work out what the pros and cons of all that are."