Published on 24 March 2026
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has said that Brendon McCullum will remain as England head coach across all three formats despite the team’s poor performances and questions about his dressing room culture.
Ben Stokes will remain Test captain, while Harry Brook will be vice-captain and Robb Key will remain managing director of England men’s cricket, the ECB said on Monday after a review focused on the Ashes series.
England suffered a 4-1 defeat in Australia this year and criticism also included their informal preparation for the marquee Test series.
Under Brook, whose altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last year remains a distraction, England lost to eventual champions India in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals this month.
All-rounder Liam Livingstone has also criticized the team culture, saying that the current regime does not care about players outside the core group.
“I have seen inspiring ambition and determination that we are fortunate to have within our leadership group to learn the lessons from the Ashes and move forward,” ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould told the BBC.
“These are all individuals who have other things they could be doing with their lives. They are all committed to doing the best for England and learning clear lessons.”
British media have also reported that former New Zealand captain McCullum’s relationship with Test captain Stokes had deteriorated during the Ashes series, although the two have publicly supported each other.
McCullum has been contracted to oversee the team until the end of the 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia next year. England will host New Zealand for a three-Test series in June before playing eight limited-overs matches on India’s home soil.
Stokes said the last three months as England captain have been his toughest, but he is confident that the leadership group will take the team forward.
“Baz (McCullum), Rob and I have the passion and desire to take this team forward, we will give you everything we have, we know we have made mistakes along the way and we have learned from those mistakes, you learn more from failure than success,” he posted on social media.
Stokes admits the last three months have been “the toughest time” of his time as England captain, but believes the current leadership group can oversee an improvement in the Test team’s fortunes.
Key denied suggestions that there had been a rift between Stokes and McCullum in Australia, despite the pair sending contrasting messages during the disappointing series defeat.
Stokes wrote, “Being captain of England is the greatest honor that can be given to a player and I do not take it lightly.”
“It has its ups and downs, it makes you want to smile, it makes you want to cry. It completely and utterly consumes you and sometimes it feels like it’s the only thing in your life.
“Without a doubt the last 3 months have been the toughest period of my captaincy journey, it has tested me in many different ways and I’m sure every other captain has gone through this too.”
Stokes has not played since suffering a groin injury in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney in January, but is set to play for Durham in the County Championship ahead of this season’s domestic Test schedule.
‘Buzzball’ here to stay
Key, whose position has also come under scrutiny, told Sky Sports on Monday that McCullum was the best man to lead England.
“Ultimately, it’s about who the players are, who do we think can take English cricket forward? Who is it that can bring the best out of the best players in this country? And for me, that’s Brendon McCullum,” Key said.
“There have actually been some very good things done. You know, it was a winter that hasn’t been good, which would be an understatement, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been bad leaders.”
Asked whether McCullum needed to shed his ultra-aggressive, front-foot style of bowling known as baseball after being found poor in last year’s Ashes and at home, Key said it was a matter of development.
“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, (or) leader in any business, you’re done. Brandon didn’t do that, and I don’t want him to do that.”
