Brendon McCullum has insisted he wants to carry on as England head coach after his side’s chastening 4-1 Ashes defeat, but has warned: ‘Am I for being told what to do? Of course I am not.’
McCullum has already spoken to ECB chairman Richard Thompson and chief executive Richard Gould about the way ahead, and has been told changes must take place if he is to see out his contract until the end of 2027.
Those changes are believed to centre around team culture and discipline, with the news that Test vice-captain Harry Brook was fined £30,000 and warned over his future conduct after a fracas with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand in October coming at the worst possible time.
But McCullum will have to do more than stamp out the team’s growing reputation as drinkers.
He may have to accept a new set of backroom staff, which he has whittled to the bone in his desire to cut out extraneous noise. And he may have to demonstrate he has the will to take England to the next level following 10 Tests against India and Australia which have produced three wins and six defeats.
‘I’ve been asked if I am keen to carry on, and I am keen,’ he said.
Brendon McCullum insists he wants to remain as England head coach despite a bad Ashes tour
‘That’s because I believe we’ve made progress over the last three-and-a-half years. While we didn’t get the ultimate prize, which was to come down here and succeed, we have become a better cricket team. The average age, apart from Root and Stokes, is quite raw.
‘I am all for progress and evolution in all sports. I have firm beliefs in what works and some areas you think you can evolve.
‘I am not against assistance, but I have a firm belief in how to get the best out of these players. I will look at it individually and say what could I have done better?
‘Am I for being told what to do? Of course I am not. But at the same time I’m not thinking there won’t be areas to improve.
‘Once we digest what has unfolded over the past two months and plan the way forward, if you are the man to do so, you do it with the same conviction, albeit with a couple of tweaks.’
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes – who will undergo an MRI scan on the groin injury he sustained on the fourth day in Sydney – was asked whether he thought McCullum would still be in charge come the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s in June. A review by the board is already underway.
‘I do expect him to be, but that’s not my decision,’ he said. ‘I’m sure if something ever comes to it, I will be asked my opinion and he’ll be getting my full support and backing.
‘I absolutely love working with Baz. He’s a great man and a very, very good coach. There’s more that goes on behind the scenes than he’ll ever give away or let out. He’s got my full support.’
