Jonny Bairstow has rallied behind Joe Root after England's captain had been called "soft" in a stinging critique from Ricky Ponting.
The tourists are a team in turmoil ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, desperate to salvage something from the series after relinquishing the urn in Perth.
Root, having been appointed earlier this year as skipper, finds himself under unprecedented pressure.
He has struggled with the bat, scoring 176 runs at an average of 29.33, and risks leaving Australia as England's worst-performing Ashes touring captain in 40 years.
However, it is Root's demeanour that has alarmed Ponting the most.
"The way he answered a lot of the questions after the game last week seemed almost like a little boy," Ponting said.
"You need to be more than that as a leader, especially when things aren't going well. It just looks like it has been a little bit soft."
Bairstow noted the team owed Root in the final two Tests.
"It's been pretty tough ... there's pressure on everyone but he's dealing with it absolutely fine," Bairstow said.
"Without a doubt, in our eyes, it is (now) a two-Test series. That's exactly how we've got to look at it, go out there and try to win both these Test matches.
"Start with a clean slate. It may free some of the lads up.
"You can talk as much as you want to talk about the whitewash - but in our minds, it's not on the agenda."
Bairstow also hit back at criticism of England veteran Stuart Broad.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan and Glenn McGrath, the most-prolific paceman in Test history, both argued earlier this week that Broad should be axed after failing to fire in Perth.
Broad recorded the worst figures of his Test career, 0-142, as Australia amassed their highest total in a home Ashes Test.
"To pick people apart after one or two Test matches is very harsh," Bairstow told reporters on Saturday.
"To pick apart someone's technique, their bowling stats, because of one or two games - having played more than 100 Test matches - I think is pretty tough.
"Those two guys opening the bowling for us are now the most successful ever seam-bowling partnership that's ever played the game."
Paceman Tom Curran and legspinner Mason Crane are both in line to debut at the MCG, with Craig Overton still in doubt because of a cracked rib.
