Ashes loss damages McCullum's credibility and prompts calls for Alec Stewart

Mark Ramprakash says England were outplayed in basics during the Ashes and argues Brendon McCullum's one-dimensional coaching approach has lost credibility; he suggests McCullum lead the upcoming T20 World Cup then reassess and proposes contacting Alec Stewart.

England finished the Ashes in Sydney having been outplayed in basic aspects of the game. Mark Ramprakash writes that a talented, mostly young squad looked muddled and did not consistently show core skills. He questions whether the management group of Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes provided the planning, preparation and technical support required. The piece also notes the England team is due to start its T20 World Cup campaign in Mumbai in less than a month. Key points: - The article says England's strongest individual performances — Joe Root's two centuries, Jacob Bethell in Sydney and Ben Stokes' 83 in Adelaide — did not follow the aggressive brand of play McCullum has promoted. - Ramprakash argues McCullum's one-size-fits-all rhetoric and selection of players to fit that brand have coincided with a perceived erosion of technical coaching and basics at multiple levels. - Josh Tongue is highlighted as a bowling success who relied on accuracy and targeting the top of off-stump rather than raw pace. - McCullum has been reported as saying he is willing to make "a couple of tweaks," and Ramprakash suggests McCullum should lead the T20 World Cup then use the months before the summer Tests to rethink his approach and suitability. - The article recommends contacting Alec Stewart, citing his long experience at Surrey, as an obvious candidate to help rebuild coaching and culture. Summary: Ramprakash concludes that the Ashes series has undermined McCullum's credibility because England's best performances ran counter to his prescribed style, and he raises questions about selections and coaching structures beneath the head coach and director of cricket. He reports McCullum has indicated limited changes and urges that McCullum oversee the imminent T20 World Cup in Mumbai before reassessing his role in the spring, while proposing Alec Stewart as a potential experienced option.