McCullum reign continues for now after Ashes debacle

Coach expected to lead side into the T20 World Cup despite disaster Down Under. By Cameron Ponsonby

- Cameron Ponsonby

Actions have consequences. Sometimes. Despite a heavy 4-1 defeat in the Ashes, England head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key look set to be given the chance to stay on and turn things around.

It's a decision that will confound and surprise many England supporters. After McCullum’s initial honeymoon phase, where England won 10 of their first 11 matches, they have since lost as many matches as they have won in the three years since. Of the four marquee five-match series they have competed in against India and Australia, they have won none of them.

Their results had been excused with this tour of Australia in mind. Players such as Zak Crawley and Shoaib Bashir had been groomed for the occasion, and there was hope that this time it would be different for them in Australia. But after only 11 days of cricket, the Ashes had gone. It tied the record for the fastest defeat in Ashes history. Bashir didn't play a single game across the tour, Crawley averaged 27.