Brendon McCullum retains the \u00adsupport of the England and Wales Cricket Board and is poised to stay on as head coach across all formats after the conclusion of a review triggered by England\u2019s Ashes defeat.<\/p>\n
McCullum is returning to New \u00adZealand after Thursday\u2019s narrow seven-run defeat by India in a thrilling T20 World Cup semi-final<\/a> in Mumbai, but will hold further talks with the ECB over the next few weeks before an announcement on his future.<\/p>\n The 44-year-old was under \u00adpressure after England\u2019s 4-1 defeat in Australia on a disastrous tour that was marred by off-field \u00adcontroversies and player indiscipline, but is believed to have convinced the ECB<\/a> he remains the right man for the job as a result of performances and attitude shown by the white-ball team in India.<\/p>\n England won six of their eight World Cup games and five of six matches on the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka that preceded it, showing fighting spirit to come through tight contests against Pakistan<\/a> and New Zealand<\/a>.<\/p>\n McCullum is said to have led a \u00adcultural change within the \u00addressing room in a belated \u00adacknowledgment that they were too relaxed in \u00adAustralia, with the players often \u00adpractising until late in the evening and observing a midnight curfew that was introduced before the Sri Lanka tour.<\/p>\n Several sources have told the Guardian they noticed a conspicuous change in the environment around the team since the Ashes.<\/p>\n McCullum is under contract with the ECB until the 50-over World Cup in South Africa in the autumn of 2027, which is preceded by a home Ashes series, with the executive believed to be of the opinion that England\u2019s best chance of regaining the urn is to back the existing leadership team.<\/p>\n The managing director of men\u2019s cricket, Rob Key, is also expected to stay on, and is believed to have provided his own endorsement of McCullum, whom he appointed as Test coach four years ago before adding the white-ball teams to his portfolio after sacking Matthew Mott in 2024.<\/p>\n England\u2019s T20 World Cup campaign ended with a defeat by India on Thursday. Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool\/AP<\/p>\n