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England find themselves at a crossroads after a disastrous Ashes 2025-26 campaign that has intensified scrutiny of the team’s leadership. As Ashes fade after three successive defeats, pressure mounts on head coach Brendon McCullumwhose once famous philosophy is now being questioned by former players and fans.
“Bazball” under fire after England’s poor confrontation
McCullum’s arrival had initially transformed the England Test team, paving the way for an aggressive and fearless brand of cricket that quickly attracted worldwide attention. The approach, commonly referred to as “Bazball,” brought rapid success and renewed enthusiasm within the team. However, recent results suggest that this advantage has diminished. England’s failure to challenge Australia consistently has reignited debate over whether the method was discovered at the highest level.
This poor run also placed the captain Ben Stokes and the wider management group under the microscope, with critics saying tactical rigidity and mental errors cost England dearly in key moments of the series.
Monty Panesar calls for change at the top
Adding fuel to the discussion, former England spinner Monty Panesar publicly suggested that it might be time for a coaching change. Speaking in an interaction with KADAK, Panesar argued that England needed a strategist with a proven track record against Australia.
“You have to ask yourself who knows exactly how to beat Australia? How will you take advantage of their mental, physical and tactical weaknesses?” » said Panesar.
He went back Ravi Shastri as the ideal candidate to take on this role.
“I think Ravi Shastri should become the next England head coach.” » added Panesar.
Why is Ravi Shastri appealing as a candidate?
Shastri’s reputation as a coach was forged during his successful tenure in India, where he oversaw a period of sustained excellence, particularly in overseas conditions. Under his leadership, India became a formidable traveling team, shedding a long-standing reputation for inconsistency away from home.
One of the defining moments of Shastri’s coaching career came when India won the title Frontier-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia with a skeleton crew, demonstrating resilience, tactical clarity and strong leadership. His partnership with the then captain Virat Kohli was widely credited for instilling belief and aggression in the Indian setup.
