England have a 'blueprint' with Bazball. Ben Stokes has conceded one part of it isn't working

BRISBANE: When the fans and players had left the ground, rain started to sprinkle at the Gabba as paper and other random objects were blown on to the field.

The boundary line was a mess.

It summed up England. An uncleaned mess with its Ashes hopes blowing away.

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When Ben Stokes was dismissed by a sharp Alex Carey catch, the England captain was just plain angry.

Angry at his dismissal. The situation. And no doubt the scrutiny to come.

Stokes was measured but notably frustrated in post-match interviews with Fox Cricket and the BBC.

The England captain was later than usual to the press conference too, presumably talking to the team and composing himself.

He apologised for the lateness to the media and composed was the right word to describe him. There was no snappy responses.

England's batting performance on day four at the Gabba was everything Bazball hasn't been this series.

Patient, defensive and dare we say it ... the opposite of brainless.

Having watched Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland bat until the Aussies could use the new pink ball in the evening session on day three, Ben Stokes and Will Jacks decided to do the same.

"Nothing's guaranteed in life and nothing's guaranteed in sport but as long as you walk out there and think in your head I'm going to fight all the way to the end here, that's what I want us to focus on," Stokes said post-match.

"What you saw from me and Will Jacks there was just on the back of me saying to everyone who's got a responsibility left in this game to show fight."

They gave travelling English fans hope, and then that was gone when both men departed at similar times.

The tail end collapse came and England didn't have anywhere near enough runs to defend.

So why can't they play like that more often? And is it a sign this side is willing to adjust?

Intent and pressure is important with the bat, but so is adsorbing pressure.

In one session, Stokes and a three-Test rookie showed up the rest of the side.

Once again, it brings into attention England's style. Stokes conceded he's in charge of a team that is struggling to absorb that pressure.

"Our method isn't just based on one thing ... I remember my first team chat with Baz (Brendon McCullum) was that our blueprint was applying pressure to the opposition but understanding we need to absorb that," he said.

"I will agree and say we're a much better team in applying it than absorbing it at the moment. You'll always see us chasing the ball hard to the boundary and people leaving everything out there. Those are the four things that are the blueprint of this team and out of the four we can definitely look to improve on the moments where we need to absorb and understand the situation on what that looks like."

Now the team will need to absorb a different kind of pressure.

The pressure that comes from the outside.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has already delivered his stinging criticism.

You get the feeling he's only just started.