Harry Brook admitted he has made "bad shots" in England's Ashes Test matches so far, and that he may need to temper his aggressive batting instincts.

England currently trail 2-0 in the Ashes after consecutive eight-wicket defeats and must win in Adelaide to stand any chance of reclaiming the urn.

Brook has contributed 98 runs across four innings so far but has only scored one half-century (52) in the first, while also being dismissed for a duck in Perth.

England have a collective batting strike rate of 71 in men's Tests in 2025, the best of any team; in addition, they have hit a boundary once every 11.5 balls faced.

Brendon McCullum insisted his side would not change their aggressive style of batting, but Brook conceded he could have avoided two of his dismissals if he had reconsidered his approach.

"I'll admit that every day of the week, especially that one in Perth. It's nearly a bouncer, and I've tried to drive it," Brook said. "It was just bad batting.

"The one in Brisbane, I've tried to hit for six, so ‌that's what I mean when I say that I need to rein it in ​a little bit. I can just take that and hit it for one and get down the other end.

"I'll be the first person ‍to stand up and say that they were bad shots. I don't regret them, but if I was there again, I'd try and play it slightly ‍differently."

Down but not out.

This group believes

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 15, 2025

England are winless in their last 17 men's Tests in Australia (D2 L15) – their last win in the country was at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2011.

At the Adelaide Oval, Australia have won six of their last seven matches against England in cricket's longest format (L1), including each of the last three.

Ben Stokes is returning to the ground where he made his Test debut 12 years ago, and now, as captain, he is urging his team to fight to stay in the series.

"It's a word that I think people don't really understand what it means," he said. "What it means to me could be completely different to someone else.

"It's just trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, and understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team.

"Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That's fight for me.

"As long as you go out there and everyone is in that mindset around the situation and what is needed, you're giving yourself the best possible chance if you've got a bit of dog in you."

England have made just one change to their lineup for the third Test, which begins on Wednesday, and they opted against introducing Shoaib Bashir on the spin-friendly pitch.

"I wouldn't say it's got anything to do against Bash whatsoever," said Stokes. "The main thing is we're 2-0 down. We need to win the next three.

"We feel having [Will] Jacksy down at number eight obviously strengthens our batting a little bit deeper if we need to go there. And he's more than capable enough to handle that role with the ball when we need to call upon it."