India, Dec. 7 -- England head coach Brendon McCullum defended his side's "lack of preparation" for the Ashes 2025 against Australia following an eight-wicket hammering in the second Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Sunday. The hosts gained a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after Australia overhauled the target of 65 without breaking a sweat on the fourth day. Throughout the first two Tests, England have been criticised by former cricketers such as Sir Geoffrey Boycott, Ian Botham and Michael Vaughan for not doing enough in terms of preparation.

The visitors, who last won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11, did not play a warm-up game before the start of the series, and even before the second Test, which was played with a pink ball, the m...