3 min learnMar 25, 2026 11:47 PM IST
The England Cricket Board (ECB) continues to search out itself on the receiving finish of criticism after handing a clear chit to move coach Brendon McCullum, following a disastrous Ashes sequence by which England misplaced 4–1 in emphatic style in the course of the five-match Take a look at tour of Australia final summer season.
ECB chief govt Richard Gould just lately confirmed that the positions of captain Ben Stokes, managing director Rob Key, and McCullum are protected following an intensive evaluation performed by the board.
Former England captain Michael Atherton expressed shock on the choice. He believes followers will discover it “extraordinary” that no jobs have been misplaced for the “errors” made in the course of the Ashes defeat.
“From the attitude of individuals on the market, they may discover it extraordinary that there’s been no accountability for the errors made within the Ashes,” Atherton mentioned whereas talking to Key on the Sky Sports activities Cricket podcast.
“It’s not essentially bloodlust folks need, however I believe they need real accountability. If there’s no change to key personnel, they may argue, ‘Properly, there isn’t a accountability.’ One of many criticisms of the gamers over that two- or three-year interval is that insufficient efficiency doesn’t result in accountability. It will appear that’s the case on the prime as properly,” he added.
One other former England captain, Nasser Hussain, was additionally displeased with the choice. He mentioned: “You’ve talked concerning the learnings, but when I used to be an England fan sitting there, I’d have gone, ‘That is your job for earlier than the Ashes, not two months after the Ashes.’ Why are you studying now? Why weren’t you doing this stuff? Why weren’t all this stuff put in place? Have you ever been marking your personal homework in the previous couple of months?”
McCullum confronted stern scrutiny over his place after a disastrous Ashes marketing campaign in Australia. McCullum’s case was additional undermined by reviews of off-field incidents. Following the horrendous Ashes, the ECB launched a evaluation technique of the group.
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Earlier, former England captain and legendary batter Geoffrey Boycott had additionally criticised Gould and Key, questioning the method behind the conclusion that McCullum would stay in his function.
“The worst pre-planned Ashes tour in my lifetime, and no person is held to account or responsible? Within the well-known phrases of John McEnroe: ‘You can’t be critical.’ The evaluation was completed by Richard Gould, the England and Wales Cricket Board chief govt, who has by no means performed county or Take a look at match cricket, and he determined no person is responsible.”
“What planet is he on? Is he oblivious to what nearly all of former England gamers and cricket journalists are saying? Gould says it is not going to be a well-liked choice to maintain Brendon McCullum, and he’s rattling proper,” Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.