Brendon McCullum set to remain England coach despite shambolic season

Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is expected to remain the England head coach despite an underwhelming season for the side, according to multiple reports doing rounds in the media of late.

The Englishmen once again failed to regain the Ashes in Australia, where they were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by the hosts after already falling to a 3-0 ODI series defeat at the hands of New Zealand. 

Despite a positive T20 World Cup campaign, which saw them reach the semi-final and narrowly lose out to the defending champions, India, in the penultimate contest by just seven runs, there have been question marks surrounding the future of McCullum and the direction in which the English cricket team is heading under his stewardship.

The reports, however, suggest that the former New Zealand international is set to remain in the hot seat for the time being. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) does not intend to repeat their past mistakes of wholesale changes following a disappointing campaign in Australia. The Board instead plans on giving McCullum a third and final shot of regaining the Ashes in 2027 on home soil.

A vital part of this agreement is for McCullum to have more control on players’ behaviour off the field with earlier reports coming out of Harry Brook’s run-in with a club bouncer in New Zealand prior to the start of the Ashes. 

The England management did implement a midnight curfew during their recent white-ball tour to Sri Lanka before the T20 World Cup. The Three Lions went on to win both the ODI and T20I series during their time in the island nation. 

McCullum's contract ends in 2027

McCullum has a contract to remain the England head coach until the end of the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be played in Africa. The marquee 50-over global tournament will take place at least three months after the conclusion of that summer’s Ashes.

It is worth mentioning that McCullum has confirmed his desire to remain as the England head coach despite the recent shortcomings. The 44-year-old also received short support from white-ball captain Harry Brook after their defeat to India in the T20 World Cup semi-final.

This summer, England are set to play three Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan and a white-ball series against India at home.