"All being well, England's cricketers should land in South Australia on Saturday. Those on the port side of the plane will have spotted the mighty Adelaide Oval during their descent. Although at 2-0 down in this Ashes series, a visual cue as to what is at stake next week is hardly needed. The mini-break spent licking wounds in Noosa generated headlines and interest but was hardly unprecedented as modern tours go."
"But the fact that Australia were 2-1 up when they downed tools mid-series meant that eyebrows were barely raised. The players were left alone and it was not part of the inquest when the series finished in a 2-2 draw, making it 22 years and counting since their last win in England. England's cricketers have a far bigger profile here and their break has looked like a goldfish bowl from afar."
England arrives in South Australia under pressure after trailing 2-0 in the Ashes, with the Adelaide Oval looming for the next Test. A public mini-break in Noosa attracted intense media attention and scrutiny. Australia previously split its squad mid-series in 2023 without similar fallout, prompting debate about the safety of keeping warm-up games in-house. Australia were 2-1 when they paused and that series ended 2-2, extending their winless run in England to 22 years. England's higher public profile turned the break into a spectacle, increasing the importance of private leadership conversations to address mixed messaging and restore focus.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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