Ashes 2025-26: England’s Brendon McCullum and Rob Key will be given opportunity to stay in their posts
England have slimmed down their backroom staff since McCullum took over. Marcus Trescothick and Jeetan Patel are the only coaches working full-time in England for the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
David Saker is also part of the coaching staff on a short-term deal as a bowling consultant; He is the third different man to hold the post in just over a year. There has been no coach with on-field expertise working with the England national team since Paul Collingwood left at the beginning of the summer.
If accepted by McCullum, changes or additions to the coaching staff could be a way for England to change their ways.
Vaughan, who captained England to victory in the 2005 Ashes, added: “If McCullum isn’t stubborn and understands it’s a learning process, that could change.
“He is a young coach and if he is willing to change, he can move on. If you look at the details on the England side, the preparations are poor. On behalf of England, these details need to come into play.
“If Baz is willing to be reasonable, I have no problem maintaining this combination. The Test team can improve and England cricket needs more refinement and a more professional approach.”
When they took over in 2022, McCullum and Stokes breathed life into England’s Test team, securing 10 wins from their first 11 matches in charge.
McCullum was then appointed in charge of England’s white-ball teams at the start of last year, but the Test side’s results have shown a steady decline.
If England lose on the final day of the fifth Test against Australia on Thursday, it will be their 14th defeat in the last 28 matches. They have not won a major five-match series, home or away, against Australia or India since 2018.
“Brendon McCullum needs to change,” Vaughan said. “This team hasn’t won a five-Test series under his watch. They haven’t come close to the World Test Championship final, they haven’t beaten India, they haven’t beaten Australia. These are big series.
“With the methods he brought and the psychology he talked about, England couldn’t handle the pressure and win a big series. They fell 2-0 down very quickly in that series. He needs to be honest with himself.
“It’s all about winning and the result. This method has been evaluated in Australia. The England side have been entertaining under this regime but they’re not getting their hands on trophies and you’re judged accordingly.”
