Bazball faces its ultimate test as England eye golden chance

Head coach revolutionised side's approach, but they now need to compete in a manner that earns Australia's respect

- Ali Martin

When Rob Key named Brendon McCullum as England's head coach in 2022, his quote in the official press release told supporters to "buckle up and get ready for the ride". Now, with this hot-ticket Ashes series a few days from setting off in sun-drenched Perth, the mix of fear and excitement among them has arguably never been greater.

The difference being that roller coasters tend to stay on the rails, whereas England tours of Australia often career off them.

No one is quite certain which way this one will play out, other than a broad agreement that Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood missing the first Test (at least) presents Ben Stokes and his tourists a golden opportunity.

Not that many locals are tipping England. The former Australia spinner Steve O'Keefe is an outlier, fancying the hosts will get "dusted" by a 3-2 scoreline - an "unthinkable call", as per one headline.

According to Jim Maxwell, the ABC's veteran commentator: "A lot of Aussies are getting sick of crap English teams turning up here."

If he is honest, Stokes will know deep down that his men should probably be defending the Ashes rather than trying to win them back. Not because of the biblical rain in Manchester two years ago but the almost performatively loose way they began that drawn series. They only got serious when 2-0 down and incensed by Jonny Bairstow's stumping at Lord's.

One wonders what the Australian view of England would be had they been so gimlet-eyed from the outset or were they to have iced that run chase against India in August for a 3-1 series win.

As it is, with a recent record against their fellow "Big Three" nations that reads 15 Tests, five wins, eight defeats and zero series victories, the verdict here seems to be of a side that is lacking in substance and a bit too pleased with itself.