"There will be consequences. There must be consequences. Perhaps there have already been consequences. Harry Brook is very sorry for getting punched by a bouncer in New Zealand. Rob Key is very sorry for overseeing an Ashes tour that in retrospect could probably have been an email. Brendon McCullum is not sorry, but has promised to look at things over the next little while, which is basically the same as an apology, so fine."
"In the meantime, the travelling circus of English cricket rolls on. There is a white-ball series in Sri Lanka starting on Thursday morning, for which consequences, remember McCullum remains as coach, Key remains as managing director and Brook remains as captain. In addition Zak Crawley returns to open the batting in the 50-over team, a fitting reward for not playing a single 50-over game in the whole of 2024 or 2025. Nature heals. Perhaps we do, too."
"As for McCullum, his contract runs to the end of the 2027 Ashes and according to reports it would cost more than 1m to break it now. Indeed it is possible that this knowledge has informed some of his more obdurate proclamations to the media in Australia, a recognition that in a landscape rich with franchise cash and poor in willing international coaches, he still holds all the cards."
Consequences have been acknowledged publicly: Harry Brook apologized for being punched by a bouncer, Rob Key expressed regret over overseeing the Ashes tour, and Brendon McCullum has promised to review matters despite not apologizing. Leadership remains unchanged: McCullum continues as coach, Key as managing director and Brook as captain. A white-ball series in Sri Lanka begins soon, and Zak Crawley returns to open the 50-over batting despite not playing that format in 2024 or 2025. McCullum's contract runs to the end of the 2027 Ashes and would reportedly cost over 1m to terminate. Losing in Australia is framed as a common outcome rather than grounds for dismissal.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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