McCullum on his future as head coach: "It's not really up to me"

England have lost the Ashes in Australia after just 11 days of cricket. Despite a sterner resistance in Adelaide, taking the match to a fifth day, it was not enough. Head coach Brendon McCullum is now facing questions about his future.

Asked if he would stay on as England's head coach, McCullum indicated he would like to. "I don't know. It's not really up to me, is it? I'll keep trying to do the job, learn the lessons I haven't quite got right here and make adjustments. Those questions are for someone else. It's a pretty good gig. You travel the world with the lads, try to play some exciting cricket and achieve some things," he said.

England's approach in Adelaide was more traditional, deviating from the perceived 'Bazball' style. McCullum clarified, "The style has never been about scoring rates. We've never said we're going to try to score at 5.5-6 an over. It's about getting into a head space where we are clear, transparent and immersed in the situation to identify risk, where the game is at and what is required.

"For me, it's about trying to get the very best out of the people and achieve what you can with them. Those other decisions are up to other people. I think we've made some progress from when I took over to where we are."

On whether his players have enjoyed the approach, he said, "I hope so. You'll have to ask them. For the last few years, we've had a team which has understood this style, and we put this team together based on skill and talent. That's not going to change while I'm still in the job.

"I will always have the back of my players, always support them and be protective of them in public. That doesn't mean you don't challenge them privately," he added.

The Adelaide defeat ended England's Ashes hopes, but McCullum insisted they will fight in the remaining two Tests. "This is going to sting, no doubt. But we know we've got a job to do in Melbourne and Sydney. If we can salvage something from the next two Tests, then that's something.

"We're not the finished article, but we've definitely improved as a cricket team. We've had an identity. Now's the time in the last two Tests to really show that identity and try to salvage something," he concluded.