LONDON: Former England fast bowler Darren Gough believes England coach Brendon McCullum was “very lucky” to remain in post after England’s Ashes flop as he expressed his “hurt” at being overlooked for the role of national selector.

Gough, who took 467 international wickets, previously worked as Yorkshire’s managing director of cricket but lost out to Marcus North in the race to become the new national selector.

Gough, 55, believes a key aspect of the role is to challenge the current England management, all of whom were retained despite a 4-1 Ashes series loss in Australia in 2025-26.

McCullum and red-ball captain Ben Stokes have retained their positions ahead of an upcoming three-Test series at home to New Zealand.

“I think Baz McCullum is realistically very lucky to carry on as England’s head coach,” he told The Overlap’s Stick to Cricket show.

“If you’re not winning games your job is going to come under scrutiny. It’s a four-year cycle, so if you go to Australia on the fourth year of it and you win, or you get really close, you can say there’s been a big change and let’s give it another couple of years.

“It didn’t happen but I wish them the best of luck. I like the way they play but it needs toning down a bit. We need a bit of steel and I’d like to think we’ll see that this summer.”

Gough, asked if New Zealander McCullum would face increased scrutiny this season, added: “Absolutely. They’re under pressure and they should be, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that.”

As for his failure to become England’s new national selector, with the England and Wales Cricket Board preferring former Australia bastman North, a frustrated Gough said: “I was disheartened. I’ll be honest, it did hurt me.

“I could have challenged them in the right areas. I’m mature now, I’m not like I was 10 years ago, a hothead. I’ve mellowed a lot, I’ve managed people. My honest opinion was, if they went down the route of someone who’d played for England, who has done all the roles in the game, I might just get this,” he said.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026