The Ashes nightmare of England Down Under has once again brought a spate of uncomfortable questions to the cricketing world. Trailing 0-3 against Australia, England have already lost the Ashes, and with two Tests still remaining, the real danger now lurks in the form of an ignominious whitewash.
Unsurprisingly, captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have come into the spotlight, together with their much-hyped "Bazball" approach.
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McCullum and Stokes under pressure after Ashes setback
England were hoping to rewrite history with their aggressive brand of cricket, but reality has hit hard. The Bazball that brought quick success early in McCullum's tenure has struggled against a disciplined Australian outfit that knows these conditions inside out. Tactical decisions, shot selections, and bowling plans- everything has been under scrutiny as England have failed to pull consistency across sessions.
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The captaincy of Ben Stokes has come under scrutiny, particularly his on-field tactics and how he manages moments of pressure. Where England have been able to play without fear on their own pitches, that same approach has been interpreted as risky, even reckless, on Australian soil.
The Bazball rise and the recent stagnation
Brendon McCullum was appointed England's Test head coach in May 2022 following the disastrous 0-4 Ashes loss in Australia. His partnership with Stokes initially transformed the team's mindset, with England winning 10 of their first 11 Tests, playing some attacking cricket to re-energize fans and players alike.
That momentum, however, has not been maintained. Under McCullum, England remain to achieve a major five-match Test series triumph over either Australia or India, possibly the two biggest benchmarks in world cricket. The scoreline of this Ashes has only heightened fears that Bazball might not be an all-situations solution, particularly in arduous overseas conditions.
Monty Panesar has one brave alternative
With debate about McCullum's future growing, former England spinner Monty Panesar has thrown a big name into the conversation. Speaking on a YouTube channel, Panesar put forward that Ravi Shastri could be England's next head coach.
Panesar is clearly among those who make no bones about their reasoning. “You have to think about who knows how to beat Australia,” he said. “Who knows how to exploit their weaknesses in the mental, physical and strategic departments? In my opinion, Ravi Shastri should be England’s next head coach.”
His credentials are difficult to overlook.
Under him, India twice beat Australia in their den to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018–19 and again in 2020–21. The latter series, in particular, stays in memory for an extraordinary comeback India made after being bowled out for 36, then injuries and adversity notwithstanding, created history.
McCullum responds to growing uncertainty
And even though the players' public support meant much, McCullum has since stated that he intends to continue in his role, but added that the future isn't completely in his hands now. His contract with the ECB goes through the 2027 ODI World Cup and includes the home Ashes series that year.
Speaking to reporters in Melbourne, McCullum struck a reflective tone. “I don’t know. That decision is out of my hands,” he said. “I’ll just keep doing my job, learn from my mistakes and try and get better. Those questions are for someone else.”
He afterwards added that it did not dampen his enthusiasm. For McCullum, it has always been about coaching the team in travel, playing exciting cricket, and pushing players to their full potential.
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