The style of play provided moments of great entertainment, but England failed to win any of their first four five-match series against India or Australia.
Key’s remit, unlike McCullum’s, extends beyond the men’s national team, although that is clearly its core and the ECB sees it as a role that ideally any holder of the post will hold for more than four years.
Tough questions remain for England coach Brendon McCullum.Credit: Getty Images
Key appointed McCullum as Test coach in 2022 and added white-ball duties in 2024 after Matthew Mott – another key appointment – was removed from his role following successive disappointing World Cup campaigns.
Despite this, however, McCullum’s position still appears less certain than that of Key or Stokes. The ECB have made it clear that some aspects of the team’s behavior off the pitch need to change, as well as its approach to training and preparation.
McCullum is a coach with a specific approach designed to remove some of the immense pressure felt by the players and has indicated that if changes are imposed on him, he is not the right man for the job. The once unbreakable bond between McCullum and Stokes seemed to have shattered under the pressure of the Ashes in Australia.
McCullum said after the defeat in Sydney: “I’m a firm believer in what works,” adding: “Am I for being told what to do? Of course not.”
Speaking about the idea of the thoughts forced upon him, McCullum said: “Without ultimately being able to steer the ship, maybe there’s someone better.”
There are already some signs of cultural and coaching changes being introduced. Less than two weeks after the Ashes end, McCullum is in Sri Lanka on a white-ball tour. The first of three one-day internationals is on Thursday, followed by three T20 matches before the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka starting on February 7.
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England imposed a midnight curfew for the Sri Lanka tour following Brook’s treatment in New Zealand last year.
Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed were able to join the tour following the late issuance of their visas for the Indian leg of the tour. England have also been joined by fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, a significant departure from the Ashes where their backroom staff was thin.
Bowling consultant David Saker is in the group again, but New Zealand mind coach Gilbert Enoka, a friend of McCullum’s who is known for his “no fools” policy with the All Blacks, is not.
Brook will face the media for the first time since the accident was revealed in New Zealand on Wednesday.
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