BAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT

Baz to stick with Pope & Co

- BY RORY DOLLARD

BRENDON McCULLUM is ready to back his batters - even if it puts his own job on the line.

The England head coach goes into a must-win third Ashes Test in Adelaide tomorrow night with most having written off his side after they were battered in Perth and Brisbane.

England cannot afford another slip-up, but are set to give their error-prone top seven another chance.

Ollie Pope, who averages 18.71 in 14 innings against Australia with a top score of 46, looked the most vulnerable to a challenge from Jacob Bethell, but ‘Bazball’ leader McCullum spoke strongly in favour of retaining the status quo.