Mass clearout of England leadership not in ECB plans after Ashes failure

"The England and Wales Cricket Board is eager to avoid a mass clearout of England's senior leadership in the wake of another humiliating away Ashes series defeat. England's hopes of winning the urn were expunged inside 11 days for just the fourth time in the contest's 143-year history with Sunday's 82-run defeat in Adelaide, and a fourth Ashes whitewash is on the cards in Melbourne and Sydney, unless the tourists can arrest a dismal 18-match run without a win in Australia that stretches back to 2011."

"A full review of the tour's planning and execution will take place following the final Test next month when jobs could be on the line, with Brendon McCullum's position as head coach expected to come under the most scrutiny. The Guardian has been told that the ECB do not want to repeat the mass cull that followed their 4-0 defeat in Australia four years ago, however, when coach Chris Silverwood and director of cricket Ashley Giles were sacked the following month, with Joe Root resigning as captain following another series defeat in the West Indies two months later."

"While changes could still be made depending on the outcome of the rest of the tour, the ECB believes that mass sackings would be a mistake and leave England less well-placed to learn the lessons of the tour. Rather than appointing a completely new leadership team, there is a desire at Lord's to retain what one source described as some institutional muscle memory of an Ashes tour, which, given England's dismal record of one series win since 1987, is in danger of appearing an insurmountable challenge."

"McCullum is likely to be under the most scrutiny, as he is the architect of the ultra-positive Bazball approach that has been found wanting in Australian conditions, and he admitted following the defeat in Adelaide that their long-term planning for the tour had been inadequate."

England's Ashes hopes ended within 11 days after an 82-run defeat in Adelaide, leaving a potential fourth whitewash looming in Melbourne and Sydney. The tourists have not won in Australia in 18 matches since 2011. A full review of tour planning and execution will occur after the final Test next month, with jobs potentially at risk and Brendon McCullum likely to face the most scrutiny. The ECB does not want a repeat mass cull after the 4-0 defeat four years ago, preferring to retain some institutional muscle memory to learn lessons rather than appoint an entirely new leadership team. McCullum conceded long-term tour planning had been inadequate.

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