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Beyond the Aussies' most optimistic hopes could they have believed they would be leading two-nil in this historic rivalry after playing a mere six days of play.

They were placed under severe pressure by the tourists in the first Test in Perth, then pulled off an incredible reversal.

This propelled them riding a crest of confidence heading into the second Test, where they delivered England a masterclass on playing the longest format, especially day-night Test cricket.

A Critical Juncture

The contest is not dead, however, it's perilously close. If England fail to win the Adelaide Test, the situation could become deeply humiliating.

I gained an intimate view at England's style throughout the last Ashes series on English soil. For all of the discussion about this tour being their chance to finally win a victory down under, there was considerable scepticism in this country about the way the English team performs.

Was the English batting lineup be suited to Australian conditions? Would they attempt big shots 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 validated.

Attitude and Accountability

There is a lot I like regarding England's mindset. I love it when sportspeople compete fearlessly, as this enables them push the limits of potential.

But I don't like the idea that pressure or high expectations should be eliminated. The great players thrive under pressure, and top-tier teams ensure members are accountable.

"Yes, there were the coaches like Bob Simpson and Buchanan, but it was the captain and experienced players who invariably managed the dressing room."

Even when a newcomer, I felt like I had permission to voice my opinion. Everyone took ownership of the team.

Subsequently, should someone stepped out from the standard, they were held accountable from their teammates. If an individual committed a mistake on more than one occasion - an uncommon occurrence frequently - they were told.

A Winning Formula

Our team contained several dominant characters - none bigger than the great Shane Warne - yet we collectively believed that what we were doing served the team and for each other. Opener Matthew Hayden often stated we pulled together due to the affection we shared, so extensive was the duration we had as a group.

That sense of duty, obligation and adaptability collectively manifested as we walked on to the field as a unit.

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

A Culture in Question

My concern for England stemmed from the philosophy of "this is the way we play" yielded a culture deficient in accountability.

It was almost that England had concluded pitches must conform to them, rather than the team adjusting their strategy to the prevailing conditions.

Ultimately, following the result of the defeat in Brisbane, it looks like the penny has dropped.

Both Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum conceded there are issues, and they must to do something to address them.

I hold no problems with the statements the English leadership made publicly after the Brisbane Test. Should the captain and coach have been forthright in the media, you can guarantee they have been even more even stronger behind closed doors.

A New Version?

Will we now see a new version of Bazball? Like I said, I like the element of playing without fear. If England can incorporate the elements of pressure and mutual accountability, then they may still possess to something.

Despite the fact England have been criticised, Australia merits significant credit for their performance.

Had England been informed they would play an Australia team lacking Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, they would have been delighted with anticipation.

Nevertheless, Australia pulled off a win in Brisbane with all of their other players rising to the occasion.

Key Performers for Australia

Pacer Mitchell Starc has proven absolutely outstanding, supported by Neser, Boland and Brendan Doggett.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey delivered an absolute masterclass with the gloves, possibly the best wicketkeeping performance I have witnessed - and I played with Healy and Adam Gilchrist.

Maybe the most significant discovery from an Australian perspective is the change within the top order.

Before the series, when it appeared to be a lot of debate about the Australia line-up, I said there was only really one question concerning one position - batter Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

That discussion has been settled, simply not in the manner anyone predicted.

Settling the Order

From the moment Travis Head stuck his hand up to bat as an opener following Khawaja's injury during the Perth Test, Australia has appeared like a different team. Now, it appears to be the opportunity for Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to cement themselves as the opening pair.

Khawaja could face difficulty to regain his place, although Australia coach Andrew McDonald has suggested he might feature in the middle order.

Absences and the Next Challenge

Injuries will result in England's Mark Wood and Australia's Josh Hazlewood being absent for the third Test and the remainder of the series.

This represents an unfortunate situation for both athletes. I understand the immense effort required to bowl quickly, the effort involved in recovering from setbacks, and how eager both would have been to play a full part in this series. They will be devastated.

Adelaide will provide a good pitch, with something in it for batsmen and bowlers alike. Australia will undoubtedly recall Lyon and it looks like Cummins will be back to lead.

The Final Word

Australia will remember how England recovered from 2-0 down to draw the previous series. They are aware England are dangerous.

This time, they hold England by the throat and must not let up merely because some big names are returning. They must avoid get complacent.

An Australian side should always think it is capable of winning every Test it contests, so for that reason this squad ought to be aiming for a 5-0.

England understands they have no choice to reverse their fortunes in Adelaide. Failure to do so, could indeed lead to a 5-0 series defeat.