Ex-England star suggests England Cricket Board consider Ravi Shastri as head coach after Ashes setback

Former England spinner Monty Panesar suggested that the England Cricket Board (ECB) consider appointing Ravi Shastri as their head coach after the team's humiliating performance in the first three Ashes Tests in Australia. England are trailing 3-0 as they have yet to win a Test in the five-match series.

Panesar further explained that Shasri has a proven track record against Australia, highlighting the tactical knowledge required to succeed in high-pressure series Down Under.

“You have to think, who exactly knows how to beat Australia? How will you take advantage of Australia's weakness, mentally, physically, and tactically? I think Ravi Shastri should become England's next head coach,” Panesar said while speaking to Ravi Bisht.

Brendon McCullum’s 'Bazball' approach initially won plenty of praise for bringing an aggressive and entertaining style to England’s Test cricket. However, that philosophy is now being questioned after a run of disappointing results at home and overseas. Since the beginning of 2024, England have won 12 Tests but lost 13, which has sparked debate about whether McCullum’s methods are delivering consistent results, especially against strong teams like Australia.

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In contrast, Ravi Shastri’s track record against Australia stands out. During his time as India’s head coach, India won two historic Test series in Australia, lifting the Border–Gavaskar Trophy in both 2018–19 and 2020–21. Those successes have led former players, including Monty Panesar, to believe that Shastri has the experience and tactical know-how to challenge Australia effectively.

However, amid the speculations on his future, McCullum himself admitted uncertainty about his future as England’s head coach. Answering about whether he would continue in his role for the 2026 English summer, he said that the matter is not really in his hands.

“I don’t know. It’s not really up to me, is it? I’ll just keep trying to do the job, try to learn the lessons we haven’t quite got right here, and try to make some adjustments. Those questions are for someone else, not for me,” McCullum told the press.