England must accept Ashes backlash, says McCullum

Head coach Brendon McCullum said England must deal with the "backlash" to their dismal 4-1 defeat in Australia.

England were widely criticised for their approach on and off the field down under, when they were thought to have a superb opportunity to regain the Ashes, only to be soundly beaten by a below-strength Australia team.

McCullum has kept his job following a review into the tour and will lead England into the first Test against his native New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday.

"There was huge hopes and ambitions for success down in Australia and we didn't get it right," McCullum told BBC Sport. "We had our chance, we didn't take it and we got beat.

"It hurt. It hurt the players, it hurt the players' families, the support staff, all the fans that travelled from England all the way out to Australia and all the fans watching worldwide.

"Now you have got to handle a little bit of the backlash of what has happened since."

In a wide-ranging interview, McCullum said:

England's style of play under McCullum and skipper Stokes has come in for attention since they took charge of the Test team in 2022.

Initially, their 'Bazball' style brought immediate success, with 10 wins from their first 11 Tests at the helm.

But since those first 11 matches, England have lost more Tests than they have won – 17 to 16 – and have failed to win a five-Test series against either Australia or India.

Frustration at results has been compounded by their approach on and off the field. In Australia, England's batting was prone to self-inflicted collapse, the bowling was scattergun and the catching inadequate.

Their preparation before the series was limited, their training during it was hampered by a thin backroom staff and there were accusations of a drinking culture, fuelled by vice-captain Harry Brook being punched by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington and a boozy mid-Ashes holiday in Noosa.

Asked what England must to do to rebuild the relationship with their supporters, McCullum said: "I feel if we are able to play in that positive, aggressive manner, but we become slightly smarter in some of those key moments and win some of those significant moments in games which happen in big series when the pressure is at its highest, then I think we build that trust."

Part of England's approach under McCullum has been to create a relaxed environment for the players, to empower them to make their own decisions and to remove pressure in the cauldron of international sport.

Ashes tours are notoriously hostile for visiting England teams, who come under intense scrutiny from local fans and media. On this occasion, only five of England's squad had been on a previous Ashes tour.

They were filmed on arrival at Perth airport, splashed across front pages and followed to golf courses and even on a trip to an aquarium. In Brisbane, they made front page news for not wearing helmets when riding on escooters and a member of the security staff got involved in an altercation with a TV cameraman.

"I always thought what was going to separate success and failure in Australia was how you handled the pressure, because the pressure was at its absolute highest," said McCullum. "I felt when we got down there we were ready for that. In hindsight, we weren't.

"I got it wrong in terms of assessing our readiness to handle the pressure.

"I'm going to do what I can to make sure the next time we get placed in that situation when the pressure is at its highest, we're able think clearly, remain poised and navigate tactically a way forward."

McCullum's contract with England ends in the autumn of 2027. He said he has not thought about the possibility of an extension so, as it stands, his final Test series in charge will be the home Ashes next summer.

By then, England will have not held the urn for almost a decade and not won a five-match series since 2018.

And 44-year-old McCullum, who played 101 Tests for New Zealand, said his team must use their latest Ashes failure as a "lesson" for the challenges ahead.

"The lesson we were taught down in Australia needs to help galvanise us moving forward, otherwise it was just a beating and incredible disappointment," he said.

"If we're able to make good on what we've been taught and what we've gone through and it makes us a better side, whilst it still hurts, it will make us a better side."

In the aftermath of the Ashes, players who have been discarded by McCullum's regime have been critical of the England set-up. Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow added their voices to the frustration expressed by pundits and fans.

In response to some of the Ashes shortcomings, England have added extra coaches to their backroom staff, imposed a midnight curfew on players and staff, and will soon be joined by a full-time chef.

"I've always had authenticity to how I like to operate as a person. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea," said McCullum. "Not everyone is going to love you all the time. That's OK.

"I have firm conviction in the way we try to shape and build teams. I'm not rigid about development, improvement and refinement.

"There has been a period of reflection, things we have needed to change and things we have changed. We've made some adjustments and now the key from a cricket point of view is winning those moments when the game is on the line."

England will hand a debut to opener Emilio Gay in the first Test against New Zealand, with the Durham man coming in for the discarded Zak Crawley.

Jacob Bethell is expected to be fit after a finger injury and will bat at number three after replacing Ollie Pope during the Ashes.

Ollie Robinson has been recalled following a two-year international exile and is likely to join Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson in the pace attack. Jofra Archer will not be ready following his stint at the Indian Premier League, while Brydon Carse is injured.

England will have to decide between spinners Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir, while McCullum suggested the switch between Stokes and Smith is likely.

All-rounder Stokes has played 131of his 216 Test innings at number six, including almost all of his four years as captain.

The captain's returns with the bat have diminished – he averaged 18 during the Ashes – whilst his bowling has improved. Stokes was England's joint-leading wicket-taker in 2025.

Wicketkeeper Smith struggled during the Ashes, yet has started the season well for Surrey. In a short Test career, the 25-year-old averages 44 at number six compared to 38 at seven.

"They are conversations we are having around switching Jamie Smith and Stokesy around," said McCullum.

"Both are brilliant players when they're at their best. They're free-flowing, when they're going well.

"It's how we get the best out of those two based on the group around them and what's required. That's certainly a conversation we are having. We're not quite yet decided, but more leaning towards it."