Brendon McCullum ‘very lucky to continue as England head coach’: Ex-pacer questions ECB

Brendon McCullum (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Former England pacer Darren Gough has questioned why Brendon McCullum is continuing as England’s head coach after the disappointing Ashes defeat in Australia. England lost the 2025/26 Ashes series 4-1, but both McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have retained their positions ahead of the upcoming home series against New Zealand.Speaking on Stick to Cricket The Overlap, Gough said McCullum was lucky to stay in the lead after such a poor result. “I think Baz McCullum is really, really lucky to be able to continue as England head coach,” Gough said.He added: “If you’re not winning games, your work is going to be scrutinized.” While Gough said he enjoys England’s attacking style under McCullum, he believes the team now needs more discipline and toughness. “I like the way they play, but it needs to tone it down a bit. We need a bit of steel,” he explained.Gough also openly said he was losing his role as England national coach. The England and Wales Cricket Board instead named former Australian batsman Marcus North, a decision that clearly upset the former fast bowler.“I was disappointed. I’ll be honest, it hurt,” Gough admitted.The former Yorkshire chief executive believes he could add valuable experience to the England set-up and challenge the current management when needed.“I was able to challenge them in the right areas. Now I’m mature, I’m not like I was 10 years ago, hot-headed. I calmed down a lot, I managed people,” he said.Gough also felt that his years of experience in English cricket gave him a strong chance of getting the job. “My honest opinion was that if they had gone down the route of someone who had played for England, who had played all the roles in the game, I might have got this,” he added.