Overview
- The ECB announced on Sunday that it had sacked Brendon McCullum as England men's Test head coach and kept him as the national white-ball coach.
- The decision follows a run of poor results with England losing seven of their last nine Tests, including a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand.
- High-profile off-field incidents, such as a nightclub altercation and a team curfew breach that led to suspensions, increased scrutiny of team culture and leadership.
- The ECB has opened a formal recruitment process to fill the Test coach role, with Andy Flower reported as an early frontrunner and the board saying it will consider candidates who hold franchise duties like IPL roles.
- England now face the task of appointing both a new Test coach and a captain before the Pakistan series that starts on August 19, with Rob Key remaining as managing director and CEO Richard Gould framing the move as results-driven.