England captain Ben Stokes has said he wants Brendon McCullum to remain England head coach, despite the team losing the Ashes series in Australia.
Stokes said he cannot imagine “someone else” replacing McCullum, stressing that he believes they are the right leadership partnership to take England forward. The pair have worked together since 2022 and both are contracted until 2027.
England lost the first three Ashes Tests, ending their hopes of winning the series, although they did manage a rare victory in Melbourne. The final Test will be played in Sydney.
While McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key could face questions after the defeat, Stokes said constantly changing coaches after poor Ashes tours has not worked in the past. He added that McCullum’s dual role as coach of both the Test and white-ball teams has not harmed the Test side.
Stokes also said he hopes to be consulted on any major decisions about England’s coaching setup, making it clear he wants McCullum to stay and continue the project they started together.
