'WE MUCKED UP AND MUST NOW EVOLVE'

CRICKET Rob Key admits his England regime has 'mucked up on the big occasions', but hopes they are given time to 'evolve' after Ashes defeat.

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A tour hyped as a legacy-defining project has descended into a familiar bout of soul-searching for the English game after slipping to three consecutive defeats in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The urn has already gone, but there are two games left to stem the bleeding, starting with the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Jobs could well be on the line, with Key's role as managing director of men’s cricket and Brendon McCullum's position as head coach at the head of the queue.