New Delhi: England have decided to stick with head coach Brendon McCullum in all three formats and Ben Stokes as Test skipper even after a 4-1 loss Ashes defeat in Australia.
Harry Brook will remain the team’s vice-captain and Rob Key will continue as managing director of the men’s side, England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Monday after a review around the team’s lacklustre performance and questions over dressing room culture.
England’s light preparations for the marquee series was deemed casual that attracted criticism, which was followed by a lost to eventual champions India in the T20 World Cup semi-finals under Brook, whose conduct was also under scanner following an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last year.
“This is not the time to throw everything out. Moving people on can sometimes be the easy thing to do. That’s not the route that we’re going to take,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould told the BBC.
“I’ve seen the driving ambition and determination that we’re lucky enough to have within our leadership group to take the lessons from the Ashes and move forward.
“These are all individuals that have got other things that they can do in their lives. They are all committed to doing the best for England and to learning the lessons that are evident.”
Amid reports of waning bond between McCullum and Stokes, the team culture has come under criticism from all-rounder Liam Livingstone, who said the current regime does not care about players outside the core group.
McCullum has a contract with ECB until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup, with their next assignement being a home three-Test series against New Zealand in June followed by an eight limited-overs home matches with India.
Key insisted that McCullum remained the best man to oversee the team in testing times, while Stokes has spken of confidence that the core leadership group could drive the team forward.
“Ultimately, it’s about who do the players, who do we think can take English cricket forward? Who’s the one that can get the best out of the best players in this country? And for me, that’s Brendon McCullum,” Key told Sky Sports.
“There’s been some really, really good stuff done. You know, it was a winter that did not go well, which would be an understatement, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad leaders.”
McCullum’s ultra-aggressive batting approach, stylised as Bazball, came up short in the Ashes and in a home series against India last year, but Key noted it was a part of evolution.
“There’s no point in keeping Brendon McCullum if you want him to completely change and become someone else,” Key said.
“If you lose authenticity as a coach, captain, leader in any business, you’re done. Brendon has not done that, and I don’t want him to do that.”