England have lost the Ashes to Australia in near-record-breaking time and there are questions marks over the future of head coach Brendon McCullum, but Sir Geoffrey Boycott is in no doubt
Sir Geoffrey Boycott has called for Brendon McCullum to be SACKED after England’s humiliating defeat in the Ashes. Following the third Test which Australia won by 82 runs, the outcome of the series has been decided after just 11 days of play.
Only the 1921 Ashes were decided in fewer days, as Australia raced into a 3-0 lead with victories in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide to keep hold of the urn. Although England still have to go to Melbourne and Sydney with the aim of winning an elusive first Test in Australia for 15 years, the focus has quickly shifted to what happens after the 2025-26 series is over.
McCullum, 44, was appointed in May 2022, helping England go from a team who’d won just one of their previous 17 Test matches to 10 wins from their next 11, spearheaded by Ben Stokes‘ captaincy. But since the last Ashes finished 2-2 in 2023, their aggressive style of cricket – ‘Bazball’ – has been scrutinised, with England losing 4-1 away to India and only drawing with them at home this summer.
Fans hoped that things would click Down Under but England have instead fallen apart. That’s why legendary former batsman Boycott thinks that the ECB should pull the trigger on McCullum, who also coaches England’s white-ball teams.
“A lot of credit should go to Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes for what they have done for our cricket but it is obvious that Bazball has run its race,” Boycott, a long-time critic of Bazball, wrote in his column for the Telegraph.
READ MORE: Ben Stokes makes England captaincy decision after brutal Ashes defeat
“Hubris has taken over from common sense and that cannot be allowed to carry on. Stokes and McCullum are like men digging a hole to nowhere. If what you are doing isn’t working then stop digging. Change is absolutely necessary to step up to the next level.”
Boycott went on to address England managing director Rob Key, whose future is also under scrutiny, saying: “What would I do? Change the coach. We are tired of this duo talking a good game but not delivering against the best teams so Rob Key, it is time for you to assert yourself.
“I would also sit down with Stokes and find out if he will compromise on his approach to batting and be prepared to embrace new ideas. If he doesn’t see that a change of attitude is needed then you have to find a new captain.”
Should Brendon McCullum be sacked? Have your say in the comments section.
In the wake of England’s loss at the Adelaide Oval, McCullum admitted that he’d made mistakes as head coach, specifically during his side’s preparation for what he described as ‘the biggest series of all of our lives’. “It is disappointing when you lose and I’m sure there will be plenty of questions asked and rightfully so,” McCullum said to Test Match Special.
“We haven’t got everything right. I haven’t got everything right as a coach and I put my hand up for that.
“I have been very strong about the conviction we had and our preparation and, you know, for us, it was a matter of trying to replicate what we have done in series that have been successful for us away from home. Maybe we didn’t get that right and I’ll acknowledge that.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
