England are on the brink of butchering a gilt-edged chance to square the Ashes series after failing to learn from the mistakes that continue to cost them dearly.

Australia are without three of their greatest modern-day bowlers in Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the Gabba Test.

There was an opening before the match started for England to make their move against a bowling attack without the big guns, if they were good enough.

But they have fallen well short and now face a nigh on impossible task after trailing by 177 on the first innings.

England finished day three on 6-134, still trailing Australia's first innings by 43.

The tourists began their second dig needing to overcome their biggest first-innings deficit against Australia to win since the 1981 miracle at Headingley, when Ian Botham and Bob Willis conjured a victory for the ages. On that occasion England were asked to follow on after trailing by 221.

There are no indications this England side is capable of such a feat, despite Ben Stokes still being at the crease.

To understand England's issues, look no further than slow learner Ollie Pope.

Pope, who averages a dire 18.71 in seven Tests in Australia, threw his wicket away after being given a warning from his first ball.

The 27-year-old played with hard hands in front of his body throughout his innings of 26, a mistake in Australian conditions. From his first ball Pope popped a Michael Neser delivery back to the bowler and was reprieved when the ball bounced just in front.

A couple more popped drives should have been a red alert. Instead, Pope drove on the up again to Neser and spooned it straight back.

Zak Crawley (44) was dismissed in the same manner, driving on the up with hands out in front and Neser plucked a stunner.

Incredibly, his opening partner Ben Duckett had earlier been dropped by the same bowler playing the exact same shot.

England batting coach Marcus Trescothick said several times that the batters were aiming "to learn" but was reluctant to face up to any technical issues such as driving on the up with hard hands.

"We are trying to play the way we want to play and we want to try and utilise that in the best possible fashion," he said.

"I don't think you should be looking too much at what the guys are trying to do. Of course we are trying to apply pressure to put bowlers off their length.

"You have got to have a style of play you want to stick to. Of course you want to adapt. We are are always trying to respect the situation, respect the game and learn and be better."

England had issues with driving on the up in the first Test in Perth but Trescothick said there had been "no discussions" about it and that there was "no need to have a knee-jerk reaction".

Australia's bowlers kept the ball up and attacked the stumps. England's pacemen were too short and allowed even the tail to prosper, with the yorker not utilised at any stage.

So far the Test has showcased one side prepared to adapt, learn and recalibrate on the run. The other has been intransigent and stuck in old ways.