Brendon McCullum played down any talk about pressure on his role on Sunday as England prepare for the third Test against Australia, while acknowledging that the side has performed well below its potential. England were comprehensively beaten by eight wickets in the opening two Ashes Tests in Perth and Brisbane, leaving the upcoming match at the Adelaide Oval as a do-or-die contest to keep the five-Test series alive.

McCullum also confirmed that the team management will persist with the same top seven batters, backing Ollie Pope at number three despite scrutiny.

“Reacting impulsively and constantly reshuffling a settled batting order isn’t something we believe in,” the head coach said.

“We’re fully aware that our run output hasn’t been good enough so far in the series. But if we’re to turn things around and win, it’s not about abandoning the approach that has worked well for us over the last few years,” McCullum said

England’s effort and preparation have been questioned, with McCullum’s claim that the team trained too much before the Brisbane Test drawing doubt from former players. The decision to relax at the tourist spot of Noosa before travelling to Adelaide was also widely criticised.

Despite the noise, McCullum appeared relaxed and rejected any notion that another defeat would place his role in jeopardy.

“I’m not sure, but to be honest, it doesn’t concern me at all. Professional sport is never simple. You give everything you have, stay confident in your methods, and accept whatever outcome comes your way,” he added.

McCullum accepted that England must step up their performances to keep the series alive, while stressing that the side has no plans to move away from its bold and positive approach.

“We understood from the start that winning the series would require three Test victories. Being 2-0 down has certainly made the task tougher, but it hasn’t dented the confidence or belief inside the dressing room,” he mentioned.

“I don’t think we’ve been anywhere near our best in the previous two Tests, but that’s in the past. Our attention now is firmly on the next game,” he concluded.