‘It’s not up to me is it?’ McCullum wants to stay on despite England’s Ashes defeat

• Coach insists his methods are not about scoring rates

• Paying off McCullum’s contract would cost seven figures

Brendon McCullum has stressed his desire to stay on as England head coach but acknowledged this is now a question for those higher up.

Australia winning this much-anticipated Ashes series at the earliest opportunity has thrust McCullum’s role into the spotlight but with a multi-format contract that runs up to the end of the 50-over World Cup in late 2027, removing him would cost English cricket a seven-figure sum.