Former captain Michael Vaughan says England coach Brendon McCullum and Rob Key should resign as part of a “complete clearout” following the retirement of Ben Stokes.
Captain Stokes, McCullum and director of men’s cricket Key had all been retained in their roles by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould after last winter’s Ashes defeat.
The 35-year-old Stokes, who ruled out reversing his retirement, suffered a series defeat by New Zealand in his final game of international cricket on Monday, having announced his shock decision on Sunday.
“Enough is enough. With Ben Stokes walking off into the sunset and results getting worse and worse, now is the time for a complete clearout, with the coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key going too,” Vaughan told the Telegraph.
“Results like this do not come along often, and when you put it on the back of the Ashes winter, which was so poorly planned, and the failure to beat India last summer, you know something major has to give.
“I take no pleasure in doing this. I don’t like calling for heads. At the end of the Ashes I tried very hard not to. But I can’t cope with watching English cricket be so wasteful any more.
“There is so much skill and talent in the England changing room but it is not being harnessed at all. If all we have is to just keep going harder, and it’s been exposed again, on the back of chaos off the field, which has been happening too regularly, then it is time for change.”
Vaughan suggested Stokes could return to the fold if there is change at the top.
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Stokes, one of the most iconic figures of his generation, told his team-mates of his decision before day four and his retirement was announced at 15:25 BST. It was immediately followed by him taking the wicket of Zak Foulkes with his next delivery.
After play Stokes, who said he will continue to play for Durham, said ending his international career was the “best thing” for him and denied the decision was made as a direct result of events across a tumultuous recent period.
Stokes missed the second Test after an incident in a London nightclub before being cleared to return as captain for the third Test at Trent Bridge.
The extraordinary proceedings of Sunday continued late in the day when Stokes made 30 after promoting himself to open the batting and England reached 103-4 in chaotic fashion, leaving them still 269 short of the runs needed to avoid a series defeat.
This series was supposed to mark a reset following the 4-1 Ashes defeat, which was dogged by off-field issues and accusations of too loose an environment.
“I’ll be absolutely staggered if this leadership group is still together,” Vaughan told the BBC.
And looking forward to the next home Ashes series against Australia in 2027, he added: “That new leadership group might just get in their nice cars, drive up to Durham and say to Ben, ‘Ben, you’re playing great. Any chance of one last hurrah against Australia this summer?’
“I would not rule that out.”
Though England are in white-ball action in the first T20 against India on Wednesday, their next Test is not until the first against Pakistan on 19 August, leaving time for further developments.
Vaughan said there is a “lack of trust” on both sides between Stokes and the ECB following the nightclub incident earlier this month.
“That was probably the final nail,” Vaughan said.
“You have to say that the way the ECB treated Ben Stokes, there was a bit of fault on both sides, but there clearly has been a lack of trust on both sides.
“I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this announcement. There’ll be more to come from it.”
“I just hope over time everyone can get together and get this team playing better cricket.”
