BEN CALLS FOR MENTAL TOUGHNESS

But defiant Stokes needs miracle now

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ENGLAND have eight days to pick themselves up off the floor before hostilities resume.

And they must now be almost perfect if they are to bring the urn back home with them in the new year.

Only one team in history, Donald Brad-man’s Australian class of 1936-37, has overturned a 2-0 deficit to win a five-match Ashes series.

England, meanwhile, have not won a single Test Down Under since 2010-11, losing 15 and drawing two.

Claiming a hat-trick of wins at Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney is highly unlikely, but not yet impossible.

Skipper Ben Stokes said: “We still have the opportunity to do what we came to do.

“If we lose hope we might as well not turn up. I haven't lost hope, that dressing room hasn't lost hope and I'll be doing everything I can as a captain to ensure that everyone is as positive as they possibly can be.”

England head coach Brendon McCullum bizarrely claimed England “trained too much” ahead of this second Ashes Test in Brisbane, amid fierce criticism of their preparations in Australia.

Lord Botham, Sir Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan were among former players to question having just one warm-up match before the series.