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Not in Australia's most optimistic hopes would they have imagined they would be 2-0 up in the current Ashes series after playing only six days of play.

The hosts were placed under severe pressure by England during the opener at the WACA, before executing an incredible turnaround.

This propelled them riding a crest of self-belief heading into the Brisbane encounter, where they delivered the English side a masterclass in how to play Test cricket, especially day-night Test cricket.

Series on the Brink

This series is not dead, however, it's not far from it. Should England fail to win the third Test, it will get deeply humiliating.

I gained an intimate view at England's style throughout the last Ashes series on English soil. Despite all the talk about this tour being their chance to ultimately secure a victory down under, 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 find ways to lose their wickets? Would they crumble when pressure mounted of the big moments?

At present, every one of the Australian observers who were sceptical regarding England are being proved right.

Mindset and Responsibility

There is a lot I admire regarding England's mindset. I love it when athletes play without fear, because that helps them to extend the boundaries of what is possible.

But I don't like the idea that pressure or expectation should be eliminated. Elite performers excel when challenged, and top-tier teams hold each other are accountable.

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

Even as a newcomer, I felt like I was allowed to have my say. Every player assumed ownership for the squad's performance.

Subsequently, should someone stepped out of line, they faced consequences by the other players. If someone made a mistake repeatedly - an uncommon occurrence frequently - they were addressed.

A Winning Formula

We had some huge personalities - none bigger than the legendary Shane Warne - but we all felt that what we were doing was for the team and for each other. Opener Matthew Hayden used to say we united due to the affection we shared, so extensive was the amount of time we spent together.

That sense of duty, responsibility and flexibility collectively manifested as we walked onto the pitch as a unit.

Certainly, all of these things are easier when a team is winning, a scenario England are currently not experiencing right now.

Examining the Approach

My concern regarding England was the message of a rigid style yielded a culture deficient in accountability.

It seemed that England had decided conditions had to adapt to them, rather than the team adjusting their strategy to the prevailing conditions.

Finally, following the result of the defeat in Brisbane, it appears the penny has dropped.

Captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum conceded problems exist, and they need take action to address them.

I hold no problems with the statements the England leaders made publicly at the Gabba. If Stokes and McCullum have been forthright in the media, one can be sure they have been forceful in private meetings.

A New Version?

Might we witness a new version of Bazball? Like I said, I support the aspect of playing fearlessly. If England can incorporate the ingredients of pressure and mutual accountability, then they might still be on to something.

Despite the fact England have faced criticism, Australia merits a huge amount for their performance.

Had England had been told they would face an Australian side without all of their captain Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, they would have been rubbing their hands with anticipation.

Nevertheless, Australia achieved victory at the Gabba with each of their other players standing up.

Australian Standouts

Mitchell Starc has been exceptionally brilliant, supported by Michael Neser, Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett.

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

Perhaps the biggest revelation from an Australian perspective is the shift in the batting order.

Before the series, when it appeared there was considerable debate about the Australia line-up, I stated there was only really a debate concerning one position - Usman Khawaja's batting partner.

That debate is now resolved, just not in a way anyone expected.

Settling the Order

From the moment Travis Head stuck his hand up to bat as an opener when Khawaja got hurt during the Perth Test, Australia have looked like a different team. Now, it appears to be the opportunity for Head and Jake Weatherald to cement themselves as the opening pair.

Khawaja could face difficulty to regain his place, despite the coach Andrew McDonald has indicated he could bat in the middle order.

Absences and the Next Challenge

Injuries will result in England's Mark Wood and Australian seamer Josh Hazlewood will miss the Adelaide Test and the remainder of the series.

That is a great shame for both men. I understand how much hard work required to bowl quickly, the dedication that goes into recovering from injuries, and how eager both players were to play a full part in this series. They are surely devastated.

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

The Final Word

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

On this occasion, they have England by the throat and must not let up just because key players are returning. They cannot becoming overconfident.

An Australian side must always believe it can win each match it plays, so for that reason this squad ought to be aiming about winning 5-0.

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