‘There is a need to evolve but he is the right man to take us forward’ – Rob Key backs Brendon McCullum despite Ashes defeat

rob key and brendon mccullum (Photo by Robbie Stephenson/PA Images via Getty Images)

England’s aspirations of reclaiming the Ashes on Australian soil might have been squashed, but director of cricket, Rob Key, is still confident that head coach Brendon McCullum is the right man to take the team forward.

After England lost the first three Tests in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, speculations regarding McCullum’s future as head coach of the Ben Stokes-led side started doing the rounds. However, Key has left little room for supposition by showing full faith in England’s project, with McCullum at the helm. The former England batter did, however, admit the need to evolve by learning from the mistakes made so far during the tour.

“Brendon is an outstanding coach. Do I think he’s the man to do that? If he’s as prepared as I am to do it, he is the right man. Brendon is a resilient character. There is nothing I’ve seen from him that suggests he doesn’t want to,” Key said while speaking to the Sky Sports Cricket podcast and later addressing the media in Melbourne.

Key also praised McCullum and Stokes for keeping the players on the same page despite the tough results on the tour Down Under.

“When you get these tours, when you’re losing in Australia in an Ashes series, half the team don’t like the captain and the other half don’t like the coach – that’s not happening at all on this trip. They have kept the players together remarkably well. But will we have to evolve? Absolutely,” Key mentioned.

I feel like we’re so much better than what we’ve played: Key

Key said that the players have not been allowed to operate to the best of their abilities and went on to take the blame for it on behalf of the England management.

“My overwhelming thing, apart from the disappointment, is actually I feel like we’re so much better than what we’ve played. We haven’t helped the players get to their best, and that’s on us as a set-up,” he concluded.

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