Rob Key is expected to continue as managing director of England men’s cricket despite the team’s heavy Ashes defeat, but Brendon McCullum’s future as head coach could come under scrutiny after the upcoming T20 World Cup, according to a report by The Telegraph.

England’s 4–1 Ashes loss in Australia has triggered an internal review led by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould and chairman Richard Thompson. While concerns have been raised around preparation, discipline and off-field behaviour, there is reportedly little desire within the board to dismantle the existing leadership structure.

Key, who has been in the role since April 2022, has played a key part in the review and is believed to retain the backing of senior ECB officials. His remit extends beyond the men’s Test team, and the board continues to view his position as a long-term appointment. Although Key publicly accepted responsibility for shortcomings in Ashes planning and selection before Christmas, he has remained silent since and is expected to accompany England on their upcoming white-ball tours in Asia.

Ben Stokes’s role as Test captain also appears secure, with the ECB favouring course correction over drastic change. Senior figures are reportedly keen to avoid repeating the pattern of wholesale upheaval that has followed previous Ashes defeats.

McCullum, however, faces a more uncertain outlook. ECB officials have privately acknowledged the need for tighter standards around preparation and player conduct. While McCullum’s relaxed, low-pressure coaching style has played a major role in England’s recent revival, he has previously indicated that enforced cultural shifts may not align with his approach.

The England head coach has joined the squad on their current white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, just weeks after the Ashes concluded. The tour has already seen stricter regulations introduced, including a midnight curfew, following reports of Harry Brook’s altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last year.

England have also bolstered their support staff for the tour by appointing a specialist fielding coach, a move seen as an acknowledgement that the Ashes backroom setup was under-resourced. Brook is expected to face the media for the first time since details of the New Zealand incident emerged.

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