Former England spinner Monty Panesar has called for Ravi Shastri to replace Brendon McCullum as England’s head coach following a humiliating Ashes series loss. England surrendered the urn to Australia in just 11 days, trailing 0-3 with two matches still to play. The rapid defeat has intensified scrutiny on the "Bazball" approach and McCullum’s leadership.
Speaking to journalist Ravish Bisht on his YouTube channel, Panesar argued that England needs a tactical reset: “You have to think: who exactly knows how to beat Australia? How do you take advantage of Australia’s weaknesses, mentally, physically, and tactically? I think Ravi Shastri should become England’s next head coach.”
Panesar’s recommendation is based on Shastri’s successful tenure with the Indian team, where he led them to consecutive Test series victories in Australia in 2018–19 and 2020–21. Under Shastri, India became the first Asian side to win a Test series Down Under, later repeating the feat despite a squad depleted by injuries.
In contrast, England has struggled to find answers on pace-friendly Australian surfaces, suffering heavy defeats in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Panesar believes Shastri's proven blueprint for conquering Australian conditions makes him the ideal candidate to arrest England's decline in overseas Tests.
Since the start of 2024, England’s form has stagnated, with the team losing 13 Tests and winning only 12 under McCullum. While the New Zealander initially revitalized the side with 10 wins in his first 11 matches, the team has since lost 16 of its last 33 Tests and failed to win marquee series against either Australia or India.
McCullum, who is currently contracted until the 2027 ODI World Cup, admitted his future is uncertain following the 82-run loss in Adelaide. “I don’t know,” he said when asked if he would be in charge next summer. “It’s not really up to me, is it? I’ll just keep trying to do the job... Those questions are for someone else, not for me.”
England's leadership crisis coincides with several squad changes ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, where Jacob Bethell is set to replace Ollie Pope. Managing director Rob Key now faces a difficult decision regarding the coaching staff as the team looks to avoid a 5-0 whitewash.
While McCullum intends to learn from the lessons of this tour, Panesar’s intervention has shifted the debate toward a more tactical leadership model. Whether the ECB will consider such a significant shift in direction remains to be seen as the series heads into its final stages at the MCG and Sydney.
