Ravi Shastri should take over as next England head coach, suggests former English bowler

England head coach Brendon McCullum is facing intense scrutiny following another disappointing tour of Australia, with the Ben Stokes-led side losing the Ashes series inside 11 days. The heavy defeat has raised fresh questions over McCullum’s tactical approach and the effectiveness of the much-discussed ‘Bazball’ philosophy.

Amid growing debate over McCullum’s future, former England spinner Monty Panesar has suggested former India head coach Ravi Shastri as an ideal candidate to take charge of the

England team.

McCullum was appointed England head coach in 2022 by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Rob Key, following England’s 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia. Partnering with Stokes, McCullum initially revitalised England’s Test cricket, leading the team to 10 victories in their first 11 matches in charge.

However, England’s momentum has since stalled. The team has failed to win any of its marquee five-match Test series against Australia or India and has lost 16 of its next 33 matches. The ongoing Ashes series has further highlighted these struggles, with England trailing 0-3 with two matches still to be played.

Panesar believes Shastri would be well-suited to the role, citing his experience and understanding of what it takes to defeat Australia on their home soil.

“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,” said Panesar to journalist Ravi Bisht on his YouTube channel.

Under Shastri’s tenure, India defeated Australia twice on Australian soil in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The first came in 2018/19, marking India’s maiden Test series victory Down Under. They repeated the achievement in 2020/21, famously rebounding from the infamous ‘36 all out’ in the Adelaide pink-ball Test and navigating a tour severely impacted by injuries.

Meanwhile, despite mounting external pressure, McCullum has expressed his desire to continue as England head coach but acknowledged that his future may no longer be entirely in his control following the Ashes defeat. The former New Zealand captain remains under contract with the ECB until the conclusion of the 2027 ODI World Cup, a tenure that also includes the next home Ashes series scheduled for the same year.