Joe Root has insisted that England’s players remain fully supportive of the current management team, describing any move to make changes after the Ashes series defeat as “silly.”
England captain Ben Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key have all faced criticism following the loss of the Ashes in Australia, after defeats in the first three Tests of the series.
However, England responded by winning the fourth Test in Melbourne, a match that finished inside two days, ending an 18-match winless run in Australia that stretched back to 2011.
All three figures—Stokes, McCullum and Key—have expressed their intention to continue in their roles beyond the Ashes. Their positions would be further strengthened by a victory in the fifth Test in Sydney, which begins next Sunday.
“In terms of the playing group, we’re absolutely committed to the management,” said Root, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer. “Of course, there are areas where we can improve and continue to get better, but the management work extremely hard.
“They may do things slightly differently, but we’ve made significant progress as a team, and a big part of that is down to the people supporting us behind the scenes.”
Root captained England on their previous tour of Australia in 2021–22, which ended in a 4–0 defeat. That series led to the departures of head coach Chris Silverwood and director of cricket Ashley Giles, while Root later stepped down as captain.
Stokes, McCullum and Key were appointed ahead of the 2022 summer and initially transformed England’s Test fortunes. McCullum has since been handed a contract extension until 2027, which also includes oversight of the white-ball teams from 2024. Stokes aligned his England contract to the same timeframe shortly before this Ashes series.
While Stokes is expected to remain captain after the Ashes, provided his fitness allows, the roles of McCullum and Key are likely to be closely examined, particularly with a T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka early next year.
Beyond results on the field, the coach and director of cricket are also being assessed on planning, preparation and off-field conduct. Key has said he will look into reports of excessive drinking during England’s break in Noosa between the second and third Tests, and he has apologised for what he described as a “20%” performance in the series overall.
