Published March 24, 2026
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced that Brendon McCullum will remain England’s head coach across all three formats, despite a lackluster team performance and questions about the changing room culture.
The ECB announced on Monday that Ben Stokes will remain Test captain, Harry Brook will remain vice-captain and Rob Key will remain managing director of England men’s cricket, following a review centered around the humiliating Ashes series.
England lost 4-1 to Australia this year, but criticism also included their casual preparation for a major Test series.
Brook’s England, still reeling from last year’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand, lost to eventual champions India in the semi-finals of this month’s Twenty20 World Cup.
All-rounder Liam Livingstone also criticized the team culture, saying the current administration doesn’t care about players outside of the core group.
“Fortunately, we have seen in our leadership group the ambition and determination to take lessons from the ashes and move forward,” ECB chief executive Richard Gould told the BBC.
“They’re all people who have other things to do in life. They’re all dedicated to doing what’s best for England and learning the obvious lessons.”
British media also reported that the bond between former New Zealand captain McCullum and Test captain Stokes had frayed during the Ashes series, although the pair publicly supported each other.
McCullum is contracted to manage the team until the end of next year’s 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. England will host New Zealand in June for a three-Test series, followed by an eight-match limited-overs match at home against India.
Stokes said the past three months had been the toughest as England captain, but he was confident the leadership would take the team forward.
“Buzz (McCallum), Rob and I have the passion and desire to take this team forward. We are going to give it everything we have. We know we made mistakes along the way, and we learned from those mistakes, people learn more from failures than successes,” he posted on social media.
Stokes believes the past three months have been the “most difficult period” of his time as England captain, but is determined that the current coaching group can oversee a resurgence of the Test team’s fortunes.
Key denied suggestions that Stokes and McCullum had a falling out in Australia, despite both sending contrasting messages during the disappointing series loss.
“Being captain of England is the greatest honor a player can receive and I do not take it for granted,” Stokes wrote.
“There are good times, there are bad times, you want to laugh, you want to cry. It completely and completely consumes you, and sometimes it feels like it’s the only thing in your life.
“The last three months have definitely been the most difficult period of my captaincy journey. It has tested me in so many different ways and I think other captains have gone through this as well.”
Stokes has not played since sustaining a groin injury in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January, but will represent Durham in the County Championship ahead of this season’s home Test program.
“Buzz Ball” will continue
Mr Key’s position had also come under scrutiny, but he told Sky Sports on Monday that Mr McCullum was the best person to lead England.
“At the end of the day it’s about who performs as a player. Who do you think can take English cricket forward? Who can bring the best out of the best players in this country? And for me, that’s Brendon McCullum,” Key said.
“There were some really, really good things. You know, it was a bad winter. To say the least is an understatement, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad leaders.”
Asked if he had to abandon his ultra-aggressive front-foot style known as the buzz ball for the Ashes and home games against India last year, Key said it was more a matter of evolution.
“If you want Brendon McCallum to completely change and be a different person, there’s no point in keeping him around,” Key said. “In any business, if you lose your integrity as a coach, a captain, (or) a leader, you’re done. Brendon hasn’t done that and I don’t want him to do that.”
