Joe Root has publicly backed head coach Brendon McCullum to continue leading England's Test side, despite the team's Ashes series defeat in Australia being confirmed with two matches to spare. Root's endorsement comes after a morale-boosting four-wicket victory for England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a win built on a pitch that drew intense criticism.
A win amidst pitch controversy and series defeat
The match in Melbourne was a remarkable anomaly, concluding inside two days on a green, seamer-friendly surface. The conditions were so extreme that MCG chief curator Matt Page was forced to publicly apologise, admitting his mistake in leaving 10mm of grass on the deck. While the pitch provided a shootout that England ultimately won, it delivered another financial blow to Cricket Australia after a truncated Boxing Day Test.
For England, the win at least prevented a series whitewash and, at 3-1 down, made this their most successful Ashes tour in Australia for 15 years. It was a personal milestone for Joe Root, marking his first Test victory on Australian soil at the 18th attempt. Basking in that moment, the former captain was unequivocal in his support for the current leadership under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
Root's firm backing for the 'Bazball' regime
"In terms of the playing group, we're absolutely committed to the management," Root stated. "They've been outstanding. This team has improved as a team. So I think [changing the management] would be silly for the amount of hard work and things that have been done."
Root's loyalty, however, appears somewhat at odds with the mood among sections of the travelling Barmy Army, many of whom have been critical of the team's approach and the squandering of key opportunities during the series. Team director Rob Key and McCullum himself have already conceded to errors in planning and on-field mentality.
The Melbourne victory, achieved through assertive batting exemplified by Harry Brook's crucial 41 on the first day, offered a glimpse of what might have been. England displayed a clarity that had been missing at pivotal moments earlier in the series, particularly in Adelaide when they arguably deviated from their aggressive 'Bazball' blueprint.
The pivotal question for Ben Stokes and the future
The central question now facing English cricket is not necessarily about changing the captain. Ben Stokes's position appears secure, bolstered by his unwavering commitment to the Test format and the clear support he retains from the dressing room. His handling of off-field distractions and his focus in Melbourne reinforced his leadership credentials.
The more profound issue is whether the system around Stokes—the selection panel led by Key and the coaching staff—is effectively providing him with the best possible players and developing them appropriately. With the next home Ashes series just 18 months away, regaining the urn must be the immediate and realistic target.
Stokes's own midas touch wavered at times in Australia, with tactics and public messaging occasionally seeming out of sync with the long-term project. The final Test in Sydney now carries significant weight. A second consecutive win would provide tangible momentum heading home, while a defeat would diminish the sheen of the MCG triumph, leaving the tour defined primarily by missed chances.
The choice for England's hierarchy mirrors that faced by the MCG: to learn from clear errors and allow the incumbents to improve, or to seek a fresh start after another Ashes campaign slipped away. For now, with Root's firm backing, the McCullum-Stokes axis lives to fight another day, but the pressure for tangible results has only intensified.
