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Beyond the Aussies' wildest dreams could they have believed they would be leading two-nil in this historic rivalry after playing a mere six days of cricket.

The hosts were placed under severe pressure by the tourists in the first Test in Perth, then pulled off a remarkable turnaround.

It put them on a wave of self-belief going into the Brisbane encounter, where they delivered England a lesson on playing the longest format, particularly day-night Test cricket.

Series on the Brink

The contest is not dead, but it's not far from it. If England fail to win the third Test, it will get deeply humiliating.

I gained a close look at England's style during the 2023 Ashes on English soil. For all of the talk about this tour representing their opportunity to ultimately secure a victory in Australia, existed considerable scepticism among Australian pundits 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? Would they crumble under the pressure during crucial phases?

Right now, all of the Australians who expressed doubts regarding England are being proved validated.

Mindset and Responsibility

There exists much I admire regarding England's mindset. I appreciate it when athletes compete fearlessly, because that helps them to extend the boundaries of potential.

However, I disagree with the idea that external pressure or high expectations should be eliminated. The great players thrive under pressure, and top-tier teams ensure members to account.

"Yes, there were support staff such as Simpson and Buchanan, however, it was the skipper and senior players who always ran the team environment."

Even as a newcomer, I believed I had permission to voice my opinion. Every player assumed ownership of the team.

Subsequently, should a player deviated from the standard, they faced consequences by the other players. If someone made an error repeatedly - an uncommon occurrence frequently - they were addressed.

The Australian Blueprint

Our team contained some huge personalities - none bigger than the legendary Shane Warne - but we all felt that our actions was for the team and our comrades. Opener Matthew Hayden often stated we united due to the affection we had for each other, so extensive was the duration we spent together.

That sense of duty, obligation and flexibility all came together as we walked onto the pitch as a team.

Admittedly, all of these things prove simpler when a team is winning, a scenario England are currently not experiencing at this moment.

A Culture in Question

My worry for England stemmed from the philosophy of "this is the way we play" yielded a culture that lacks personal responsibility.

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

Ultimately, in the aftermath of the loss 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 about it.

I hold no problems with what the England leaders said in public at the Gabba. If Stokes and McCullum have been strong in the media, one can be sure they have been even more even stronger behind closed doors.

Evolution Required

Will we now see an evolved form of their aggressive brand? Like I said, I like the aspect of playing without fear. Provided England can add the elements of pressure and accountability, then they may still possess to something.

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

If England had been told they would face an Australia team without all of their captain Cummins, Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, they would have felt delighted with anticipation.

Nevertheless, Australia pulled off victory in Brisbane with all of their other players standing up.

Australian Standouts

Pacer Mitchell Starc has been absolutely outstanding, ably assisted by Michael Neser, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett.

Alex Carey delivered a flawless exhibition with the gloves, possibly the best wicketkeeping performance I've ever seen - and I played with Healy and Adam Gilchrist.

Maybe the most significant revelation from an Australian perspective is the shift in the batting order.

Prior to the contest, when there seemed to be a lot of discussion regarding Australia's lineup, I said there was essentially just one question concerning one position - Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

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

The New Opening Pair

Ever since Travis Head volunteered to bat as an opener following Khawaja's injury in Perth, Australia has appeared transformed. Now, there seems to be the opportunity for Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to establish themselves as the opening pair.

Khawaja might 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 will miss the third Test and the remainder of the series.

This represents an unfortunate situation for both athletes. I understand how much hard work required to bowl quickly, the effort involved in coming back from setbacks, and how desperate both would have been to participate fully in this series. They are surely heartbroken.

Adelaide will provide a quality surface, offering something for batters and bowlers alike. Australia will certainly reinstate spinner Lyon and it seems Cummins will be back to lead.

Closing Thoughts

Australia will remember how England recovered from a two-nil deficit to level the previous series. They are aware England poses a threat.

On this occasion, they have England in a stranglehold and must not let up just because key players are returning. They must avoid get complacent.

An Australia team should always think it is capable of winning every Test it plays, therefore this squad ought to be aiming about winning 5-0.

England will know they are compelled to reverse their fortunes in Adelaide. If they don't, then it really could be 5-0.