\n<\/p>\n
The danger England must avoid is letting successful series at home to weaker opponents paper over the evident cracks.<\/p>\n
Lemon has seen England struggle against Australia for many years: “You see players putting in performances of the type that we’ve seen, and there aren’t really repercussions. There isn’t that ruthlessness to demand the absolute best standard.”<\/p>\n
Jones believes the inevitable review must involve voices external to the England and Wales Cricket Board: “I wouldn’t get it run by the ECB. The whole saying is ‘culture eats strategy for breakfast’.<\/p>\n
“I’m bringing in some different and innovative thoughts about successful high-performance cultures. And that might not all be sport, but got a collective of minds in the room to figure out what is going to work best for England.”<\/p>\n
Lemon cites particular value in Australia’s settled domestic structure: “Across the state teams, there are another probably 10 or 11 players who could equally slot into this side and be just as good as anybody who’s out there.<\/p>\n
“A lot of the players who are in the England side who’ve been picked year after year – there isn’t that pressure coming from outside that you have to keep performing, or you might find yourself being left out.”<\/p>\n
Beyond structural change, the consistent message we’re hearing is there must be a culture of accountability, honesty and old-fashioned hard work.<\/p>\n
As Jones says: “You do it so that you can raise your bet for 100 on the MCG and see your name go up on the board. You do it so that you’re a part of a legacy piece over and over again and you do it so you don’t lose your spot in the team.”<\/p>\n
England need to see these brutal hours of hard work and embrace them.<\/p>\n
As Australia celebrated with their friends and families, England players were watching too. They’d do well to put pictures of the scenes on their dressing room walls as a reminder of the disappointment, but also the rewards on offer for those who can reach them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n