Rob Key, England men's managing director, and Richard Gould, ECB chief executive, announced the results of England's Ashes post-mortem today, confirming that there would be no major sackings as a result of the winter disaster.
The ECB do not plan on publishing their investigation publicly, but outlined the key findings to the media at Lord's today. While there was little new information divulged, subtle changes are set to be made to the way the side operates, including its culture on and off the field, as well as an expanded selection process and backroom team.
McCullum and Key to remain in post
At the end of the Ashes, the positions of both of England's key managers looked close to untenable. However, they appear to have both come out of the winter newly empowered to rectify the wrongs of the past – wrongs that, in some part, have now been acknowledged. “It may not be the popular route, it may not be the easiest route, but I think it’s the right route,” Gould said of the decision to retain McCullum. Gould did, however, admit that the decision may not be popular with fans: “We are not going to select or deselect management based on a popularity campaign. We’re going to do it based on good judgment, objective views.”
McCullum is contracted to be England's all-format coach for another 18 months and, although there was speculation over whether he could focus purely on the white-ball side going forward. Gould was clear that he had seen enough during the T20 World Cup that McCullum would be able to "adapt and evolve" his leadership of both squads.
No significant change to Bazball philosophy
Despite the conviction from Gould to adapt, Key was clear that he didn't want to see a “massive change of style” from McCullum 2.0. “We don’t want a change of philosophy so that you’re asking Brendon McCullum to be someone completely different,” Key said. “Because as a leader, if you’re not authentic, you’re done.”
Nevertheless, both men outlined the need for heightened expectation around team behaviours on and off the field and the need for better individual and collective decision-making, despite McCullum's belief in giving his players maximum freedom. The professionalism within the squad became a focal point of the winter when it was revealed that Harry Brook had been disciplined following a night out in New Zealand the evening before he was set to captain England in an ODI. Gould described the incident as “significantly unprofessional”, and added on the subsequent team curfew imposed – “We want to give people the freedom to make their own decisions. But sometimes we also need to provide them with more strict parameters.”
Key: 'Mistake' not to get involved in county cricket
The relationship between England and the first-class counties has been another focus point of recent weeks ahead of the start of the domestic season. There's a feeling among the counties that domestic performance is no longer a marker by which England select, and that players are unclear on what they need to do to get into what they perceive as a “closed group”. “One of my mistakes is really thinking that I never wanted to get involved in county cricket,” said Key. “I never wanted to be feeling like England was meddling with the county game. And actually that was a mistake. There's a way that we can work together better.”
Key admitted that the desire to have a settled team for the Ashes meant that there was “a lack of consequence really for substandard performance”. England backed Ollie Pope for the first three Ashes Tests, but dropped him for Jacob Bethell after losing the series in Adelaide. There looks set to be opportunities for players who succeed early in the County Championship this year, with potential openings in the opening partnership and bowling lineup.
Back-room staff set to further expand, national selector to be appointed
Part of England's bid to re-enfranchise the counties will be the appointment of a new national selector, who is set to play a key role in the player scouting process. The role was previously filled by Luke Wright, who stood down over the winter, but the new role is set to come with expanded authority. Alongside ECB performance Ed Barney, the national selector will lead what Key called a “county insight group” to provide insights to the selection panel on players from the county game.
In addition, England are set to expand their backroom further with the addition of more specialist coaches. McCullum trimmed down England's backroom staff when he took over the role, and copped significant criticism for failing to find a bowling coach who could be with the side for the entire Ashes series. Key said that former England bowling coach Troy Cooley, who played a key role in the development of England's 2005 bowling attack, would rejoin the staff.
'Difference between not caring and not getting it right' – Key
The quality of England's preparation in the build-up to the Ashes series was another talking point of the winter, with an admission from Brendon McCullum during the series that it was something he “didn't get right”. Key reiterated that sentiment today, and vowed to plan better for future tours. “If you start with the performance and planning culture, we've certainly not got that right,” said Key.“But there's a difference between not caring about planning and preparation and not getting it right.
“I do feel a little bit when it came to the New Zealand one day series is that the management were very pragmatic and they just said that's what we've got available, we'll make the best of it. And that's not good enough. We at the ECB need to make sure that we've got options for them to have the best preparation they can.”
England will play Test series against South Africa and Bangladesh this winter, as well as a one-off Test in Australia. They will also play white-ball series in Pakistan and Australia in October and November before starting their Test winter in South Africa.
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