Former Australia cricketer Shane Watson has opined that England batsmen will have to be braver to turn things around in the ongoing Ashes series, after having lost the first two matches. Watson further added that the selection and the strategy of England has been questionable throughout the series.

England batsman Dawid Malan has said that the team is hurting after defeats in the first two Ashes Tests, and that everyone is up for the challenge for the third game in Melbourne, beginning December 26. Malan also admitted that the visitors haven’t been good enough across all facets of the game.

Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne has predicted that Steve Smith will make a significant impact with the bat and will score big in the remaining three fixtures of the ongoing Ashes series. Smith has registered scores of 12, 93 and 6 runs the series thus far, with Australia currently leading 2-0.

Michael Atherton feels that if England's ongoing Ashes tour tour continues to go badly, it will be hard to see Joe Root continuing as the captain. Atherton also questioned head coach Chris Silverwood for the team selections, after the visitors suffered crushing defeats in the first two Tests.