Ashes 2025-26: Brendon McCullum open to adjustments as ECB begins review for series loss

England head coach Brendon McCullum has admitted that some areas of his teaching may need to be refined and changed, with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) launching a review following the team’s 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia.

Although McCullum has two years remaining on his initial contract, the manner of England’s defeat and the series being decided in 11 days has put his status under scrutiny. He is still set to attend England’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later this year, but the ECB has indicated that modifications will be made following the review process.

Attention may also be focused on England managing director Rob Key, whose decision to expand McCullum’s responsibilities, trust him across formats, and prolong his contract has come under renewed criticism in light of the outcome Down Under.

Now, the ECB’s chief executive officer, Richard Gould, has come forward and stated that the board will conduct a full assessment process following a loss that has left the board extremely disappointed. Gould noted that the Ashes started with a lot of hope, but the team and coaching staff failed to meet the board’s expectations.

“This Ashes tour began with significant hope and anticipation, and it is therefore deeply disappointing that we have been unable to fulfil our ambition of winning the Ashes in Australia,” Gould was quoted as saying by in a statement.

“While there were moments of strong performance and resilience during the series, including a hard-fought victory in the fourth Test in Melbourne, we were not consistent enough across all conditions and phases of the contest, and Australia ultimately deserved to retain the Ashes,” Gould added.

Gould pointed to a number of areas where England may have fallen short, citing issues related to team environment, rigidity in approach and insufficient attention to finer details. The manner and swiftness of the defeat have only sharpened scrutiny around planning and adaptability, both of which will be examined as part of the ECB’s review. He confirmed that the process is already underway and will be wide-ranging.

“We will take many lessons from this tour and are determined to improve quickly. Our focus is on regaining the Ashes in 2027. A thorough review of the campaign is already underway. This will cover tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours, and our ability to adapt and respond effectively as circumstances require,” he added.”The men’s team now moves on to Sri Lanka ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which begins in February, and we will implement the necessary changes over the coming months,” he concluded.

I’m all for progress and evolution in all sports: Brendon McCullum

McCullum, meanwhile, suggested after England’s defeat in Sydney that he is willing to adapt his methods to some extent, while stressing that he is not taking things from others’ viewpoint. The former New Zealand international believes that he has his individual technique of looking back and assessing things that have gone wrong and the way(s) to fix them.

“I’m all for progress and evolution in all sports. From my point of view, I have firm beliefs in what works and some areas where you want to keep improving, and some areas where you think you can evolve,” he told via BBC Test Match Special.”I’m not against assistance, but I also have a firm belief in how to get the best out of these players. From my point of view, I’ll look at it individually and say, ‘Right, what could I have done better?’ and ‘What could I improve on?’ Am I for being told what to do? Of course I’m not,” the coach added.

“But at the same time, I’m not pig-headed [enough] to think there’s not some areas that we can improve on, and once we digest what’s unfolded over the last two months and start to plot and plan a way forward, if you’re the man in the chair to do so then you do so with a similar conviction in your methods – albeit with a couple of tweaks,” McCullum concluded.

I absolutely love working with him: Ben Stokes

England captain Ben Stokes is set to provide input as part of the review process and restated his support for McCullum, indicating that he anticipates Brendon to continue in the role heading into England’s summer, where they take on New Zealand. The skipper also confirmed his intention to continue as captain, despite acknowledging his individual struggles during the tour.

“It’s not my decision [but] I’m sure if something ever comes to it, I’ll 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 he’s a very, very, very good coach. There’s more that goes on behind the scenes than he’ll ever give away, and then he’ll ever let out. He’s got my full support. He’s a very, very good coach,” Stokes stated.

“I’m definitely keen as anything to carry on. I love having a challenge thrown at me and at the moment, the challenge is getting the team back to where we once were in terms of the performances that we were delivering,” Stokes said.