ECB Backs Stokes–McCullum and Moves to Reconnect With Counties

Overview

• ECB chief Richard Gould, speaking Tuesday, said Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes will stay in post and rejected calls to block Australian signings.
• The board will set up a quarterly county insight group and hire a national selector to rebuild links with the domestic game.
• The County Championship starts this week, giving in-form players such as Saif Zaib, Haseeb Hameed and Sam Cook a fresh shot at Test selection.
• Recent critiques from Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Reece Topley and Ben Foakes focused on a lack of care and support for those dropped, which Gould said reflects the pain of deselection.
• On Wednesday, veteran seamer James Anderson said England can still regain the Ashes at home and pointed to bowlers like Josh Tongue as reasons for hope.