Smith and Head hit tons as Australia lead England on day three
‘Sydney is a city of endings – this felt like another’
England’s batsmen operate in a realm devoid of repercussions, which translates to a lack of accountability. There have been three distinct bowling coaches in just over a year, leading to a bowling attack that struggles to implement a strategy. Fielding practices often focus solely on slip catching, and Jamie Smith is seldom observed honing his wicketkeeping skills. McCullum’s approach has become deeply embedded, and his ability to cultivate a culture is his forte. He is well-suited to revitalize a struggling side, much like he did for England nearly four years ago. In retrospect, perhaps the optimal moment for his exit would have been after the last Ashes series. He had managed to steer the team in a positive direction and could have passed the leadership to someone more detail-oriented, capable of elevating England to the next level. Sydney is set to record a 14th loss in 28 matches since then.
It has been speculated that McCullum could face impositions regarding staff additions. It’s difficult to envision how any head coach would welcome a reshuffle among the support crew without feeling compromised. Stokes has openly backed McCullum, and rightly so. If Stokes possesses strong opinions regarding the coaching staff’s composition, they ought to be considered. Surely, the captain recognizes where his squad has faltered and where improvements are necessary.
The immediate outlook remains uncertain. England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Richard Thompson and chief executive Richard Gould have traveled to Sydney to witness this bleak conclusion. Director of cricket Rob Key will bear as much responsibility as McCullum and is similarly at risk of job loss.
This England administration has largely avoided criticism for past performances, frequently because some form of rationale has been presented. England enforced the follow-on against New Zealand in Wellington in 2023 and came up short, yet it received acclaim as a one-run thriller. Falling 2-0 behind in the Ashes of the same year was obscured by the Jonny Bairstow stumping incident and the resurgence to 2-2. Series losses in India and Pakistan in 2024 were attributed to long-standing difficulties with spin bowling and batting. The letdown of a 2-2 tie with India last summer was overshadowed by the heroics of a one-armed Chris Woakes at The Oval.
Above all, assessment of the Bazball era has been postponed because this England setup requested to be evaluated based on this Ashes series. That evaluation is now upon us. There are more matches to come, but this feels like a conclusion.
Published: 2026-01-06 09:00:00
source: www.bbc.com
