After a humiliating three losses in the ongoing Ashes series in just a span of 11 days, I don’t know. It’s not really up to me, is it?” says Brendon McCullum on continuing as England coach. The England team came with a positive intent to take the Ashes home after being it will Australia from the past eight odd years. Basically, the last time England won the Ashes was in 2015 at their home.
Basically, England lost the first test match by eight wickets as the Perth Stadium was the venue. Next up, they lost the second test by eight wickets again, and this time, the Gabba was the venue. Mostly, England also lost the three-test series, and it was by 82 runs, with Adelaide Oval being the venue. It is fair to say that Australia had a few important players missing as well, and now the question is on the coach.
Also check out: Australia 4th Ashes Squad: No Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who replaces them?
Brendon McCullum on continuing as England coach: “I don’t know. It’s not really up to me, is it?”
For quite a long time, the England team has been playing a type of cricket in the test format, and it all started with the former New Zealand captain, Brendon McCullum, becoming their coach in 2022. It is called the BazBall. At the start, it looked a bit risky, but with time, the England team made this their style of play, and many other teams tried to copy as well. With it now failing in the Ashes, there are questions about the job of Brendon McCullum.
I don’t know. It’s not really up to me, is it? I will just keep trying to do the job, try to learn the lessons that I haven’t quite got right here and make adjustments. Those questions are for someone else, not for me. It’s a pretty good gig. It’s good fun. You travel the world with the lads and try to play some exciting cricket and try to achieve some things.
The style has never been about the scoring rates. “We have never said we are going to try to score at 5.5-6 an over. It’s about allowing us to get in the head space where we are clear, transparent and immersed in the situation and the moment so we can identify risk, where the game is at and what is required
For me, it’s a matter of trying to just get the very best out of the people and try to achieve what you can with them. Those other decisions are up to other people. I think we’ve made some progress from when I took over to where we are
The BazBall reflects on scoring with a run rate of 5 or 6 in an over, which McCullum stated. He also said that he is not the one who will decide whether he speaks for the job or not. It all depends on the board. The coach has always backed his players, and he also spoke about this approach not being finished as the team has surely improved with time playing this way.
He has always tried to get the best out of the players and also wants success for the England team. Each and every coach comes with different tactics and plans for their team and players. As the Ashes hold a great significance for English cricket, it might be time that the board moves on, but surely we will not see him being sacked before the five matches are completed. The Boxing Day Test is set to start on 26th December, and the venue is Melbourne Cricket Ground.