Steve Harmison says England should sack Brendon McCullum after Ashes nightmare

Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has called for head coach Brendon McCullum to be dismissed following England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, arguing that the series exposed fundamental planning failures for which McCullum must shoulder ultimate responsibility.

England arrived in Australia tipped to claim their first away Ashes triumph since 2010-11, with the hosts hampered by injuries and selection headaches. Instead, the tourists imploded, surrendering the urn inside 14 days of cricket and finishing with only a consolation win in Hobart. The scale of the setback has triggered a post-mortem in which Harmison insists McCullum, not managing director Rob Key, should pay the heaviest price.

“I would be making a decision on McCullum solely on this one Ashes series because, as a coach, you drive the message,” Harmison told reporters. “As a coach, you prepare the players. As a coach, you prepare the team. You make sure you’re leaving no stone unturned… and I think England got all that horribly wrong.”

Harmison, who admitted he was “reluctant” to advocate for McCullum’s removal given the coach’s transformative impact on English cricket since taking over in 2022, said the Ashes collapse was impossible to ignore. “When a lot of us are talking about, we didn’t beat India at home, didn’t beat Australia at home, I’m not that bothered about that. I’m bothered about this one Ashes series.”

The 45-year-old highlighted a raft of selection and logistical missteps: rookie off-spinner Shoaib Bashir was parachuted in as frontline slow bowler, yet had minimal first-class mileage; Will Jacks was chosen as back-up spinner despite a similarly modest red-ball record; and no reserve opening batter was taken, leaving the top order exposed when injuries struck. England’s batting averages compounded the concern—three of the top six averaged 34 or less in Test cricket heading into the series.

“Everything went wrong. Our planning was so badly wrong. They’ve admitted that,” Harmison said, referencing the decision to train at Lilac Hill rather than the match venue, Optus Stadium, and the shortage of warm-up fixtures. “Shoaib Bashir is your frontline spinner, and Will Jacks is your backup spinner. That rings alarm bells. You have three batters in the top six who average 34 or less, with no spare opening batter.”

With the England hierarchy already under pressure to reassess the Bazball philosophy that had re-energised the side but unravelled against Australia’s disciplined attack, Harmison believes a coaching change is the only decisive statement left. “Honestly, just because I’m isolating [The Ashes], I think he goes.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board has yet to respond publicly to Harmison’s remarks, but the chorus of criticism surrounding McCullum’s first major overseas assignment is growing louder as attention turns to the next World Test Championship cycle.