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Not in Australia's wildest dreams would they have imagined they'd find themselves leading two-nil in this historic rivalry following just only six days of play.

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

It put them on a wave of confidence going into the second Test, where they delivered the English side a masterclass in how to play the longest format, especially pink-ball matches.

Series on the Brink

The contest is not dead, but it's not far from it. Should England don't win the third Test, the situation could become embarrassing.

I got a close look of England's approach throughout the last Ashes series in the UK. For all of the talk about this tour being their chance to finally win a victory down under, there was a lot of scepticism in this country about the way England play.

Would England's batting be appropriate for Australian conditions? Would they attempt big shots and find ways to lose their wickets? Might they collapse under the pressure during crucial phases?

At present, all of the Australians who expressed doubts regarding England are seeing their views right.

Mindset and Responsibility

There is much I admire about England's attitude. I love it when athletes play without fear, as this enables them push the boundaries of potential.

But I don't like the notion that pressure or expectation should be eliminated. The great players thrive under pressure, and top-tier teams hold each other to account.

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

Even as a young player, I felt like I had permission to have my say. Everyone took responsibility of the team.

Subsequently, should a player deviated of line, they faced consequences from their teammates. If an individual committed an error repeatedly - an uncommon occurrence very often - they were told.

A Winning Formula

We had several dominant characters - no one more prominent than the legendary Shane Warne - yet we collectively believed that what we were doing served the team and our comrades. 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, responsibility and adaptability all came together as we walked on to the field as a unit.

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

A Culture in Question

My concern for England stemmed from the philosophy of "this is the way we play" fostered an environment deficient in personal responsibility.

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

Finally, in the aftermath of the loss at the Gabba, it looks like the penny has dropped.

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

I hold no problems with the statements the English leadership made publicly after the Brisbane Test. If Stokes and McCullum have been forthright in the media, one can be sure they have been forceful behind closed doors.

Evolution Required

Will we now see an evolved form of Bazball? Like I said, I like the aspect of competing fearlessly. Provided England can add the ingredients of embracing pressure and accountability, then they might still be on a viable formula.

For all that England have been criticised, Australia merits significant credit of credit.

If England had been told they would play an Australia team lacking their captain Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, they would have felt rubbing their hands with glee.

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

Australian Standouts

Pacer Mitchell Starc has proven exceptionally brilliant, ably assisted by Michael Neser, Boland and Brendan Doggett.

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

Perhaps the biggest revelation for Australia has been the change in the batting order.

Prior to the contest, when it appeared to be a lot of discussion regarding Australia's lineup, I said there was only really a debate about one area - batter Usman Khawaja's batting partner.

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

The New Opening Pair

From the moment Batsman Travis Head stuck his hand up to open when Khawaja got hurt during the Perth Test, Australia have looked transformed. Now, there seems to be the opportunity for Travis Head and Jake Weatherald to establish themselves as the first-wicket duo.

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

Absences and the Next Challenge

Injuries will result in English speedster Mark Wood and Australia's Josh Hazlewood will miss the third Test and the rest of the series.

That is an unfortunate situation for both athletes. I understand the immense effort required to bowl quickly, the effort involved in recovering from injuries, and how desperate both would have been to participate fully in this contest. They will be heartbroken.

The Adelaide Oval will be a good pitch, offering something for batters and bowlers alike. Australia will undoubtedly recall Lyon and it seems Cummins will return to lead.

The Final Word

Australia will remember how England came from 2-0 down to level the last Ashes. They are aware England poses a threat.

This time, they have England in a stranglehold and must not relent just because key players are coming back. They must avoid get complacent.

An Australian side must always believe it is capable of winning every Test it plays, so for that reason this squad should be thinking for a five-nil whitewash.

England understands they have no choice to reverse their fortunes in Adelaide. If they don't, could indeed lead to 5-0.