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Beyond the Aussies' wildest dreams would they have imagined they'd find themselves leading two-nil in this historic rivalry after playing a mere six days of cricket.

The hosts were placed under severe pressure by England during the opener in Perth, then pulled off an incredible reversal.

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

A Critical Juncture

The contest is not dead, but it's not far from it. Should England fail to win the Adelaide Test, it will get embarrassing.

I gained an intimate view of England's approach during the last Ashes series on English soil. For all of the talk about this tour representing their opportunity to finally win a victory down under, existed considerable doubt in this country about the way the English team performs.

Would England's batting be suited to the pitches in Australia? Would they play aggressive strokes and find ways to lose their wickets? Would they crumble under the pressure of the big moments?

At present, all of the Australian observers who were sceptical about England are seeing their views validated.

Mindset and Responsibility

There is much I like about England's attitude. I love it when athletes play without fear, as this enables them push the limits of what is possible.

However, I disagree with the idea that pressure or high expectations should be eliminated. Elite performers excel when challenged, and top-tier teams ensure members are accountable.

"Yes, there were the coaches such as Simpson and John Buchanan, but it was the skipper and experienced players who invariably managed the dressing room."

Even as a newcomer, I believed I was allowed to have my say. Everyone took ownership of the team.

Subsequently, should someone stepped out from the standard, they faced consequences from their teammates. If an individual committed a mistake on more than one occasion - which didn't happen very often - they were told.

A Winning Formula

Our team contained several dominant characters - none bigger than the great Shane Warne - but we all felt that our actions served the team and for each other. Opener Matthew Hayden used to say we united due to the affection we shared, so extensive was the duration we spent together.

That sense of duty, responsibility and adaptability collectively manifested when we stepped on to the field as a unit.

Certainly, all of these things prove simpler when a team secures victories, which England are not doing at this moment.

Examining the Approach

My worry regarding England stemmed from the philosophy of a rigid style fostered an environment that lacks personal responsibility.

It seemed as if England had decided pitches must conform to them, rather than the team adjusting their game to the prevailing conditions.

Finally, following the result of the defeat at the Gabba, it appears the penny has dropped.

Both Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged problems exist, and they need to do something about it.

I hold no issue with what the England leaders made publicly after the Brisbane Test. If Stokes and McCullum have been strong publicly, one can be sure they have been even more even stronger in private meetings.

A New Version?

Will we now see a new version of their aggressive brand? Like I said, I like the aspect of playing fearlessly. Provided England can incorporate the elements of pressure and accountability, then they may still be on a viable formula.

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

If England had been told they would play an Australia team lacking Pat Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon, they would have felt delighted with anticipation.

And yet, Australia achieved a win in Brisbane with all of their other players rising to the occasion.

Key Performers for Australia

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

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey put in a flawless exhibition with the gloves, arguably the finest wicketkeeping performance I have witnessed - and I played with Ian Healy and Gilchrist.

Maybe the most significant revelation from an Australian perspective is the shift within the top order.

Before the series, when there seemed to be a lot of discussion regarding Australia's lineup, I said there was only really one question about one area - batter Usman Khawaja's opening partner.

That discussion is now resolved, simply not in the manner anyone expected.

Settling the Order

From the moment Travis Head volunteered to bat as an opener when Khawaja got hurt during the Perth Test, Australia have looked transformed. Now, it appears to be the opportunity for Head and Jake Weatherald to establish themselves as the first-wicket duo.

Khawaja might face difficulty to regain his place, despite the coach Andrew McDonald has indicated he could bat at number five.

Absences and the Next Challenge

Injuries will mean England's Mark Wood and Australia's Josh Hazlewood being absent for the Adelaide Test and the remainder of the series.

This represents a great shame for both athletes. I understand the immense effort it is to bowl fast, the effort involved in coming back from setbacks, and how desperate both players were to participate fully in this series. They are surely heartbroken.

The Adelaide Oval will be a quality surface, with something in it for batters and bowlers. Australia will certainly recall Lyon and it looks like Cummins will be back to lead.

The Final Word

Australia will remember how England came from 2-0 down to level the previous series. They will know England poses a threat.

This time, they have England in a stranglehold and must not let up merely because some big names are coming back. They cannot get complacent.

An Australia team must always believe it can win each match it contests, so for that reason this squad should be thinking for a five-nil whitewash.

England will know they are compelled but to turn things around at Adelaide. Failure to do so, could indeed lead to 5-0.