England’s disastrous Ashes tour of Australia has finally come home to roost with ‘Bazball’ conductor Brendon McCullum sacked as Test coach two weeks after captain Ben Stokes’ shock mid-match retirement.

McCullum’s marching orders leave the English back where they were four years ago, when they boldly handed the Kiwi the reins and men’s cricket director Rob Key told fans to “buckle up and get ready for the ride” - rudderless without a series victory in two years.

The complete implosion couldn’t be timed worse with England having less than 12 months to prepare for redemption in their home Ashes next summer.

But they will even need to be ready for their arch-enemies before then, fixtured to play Australia under lights at the MCG in March for the 150th Anniversary Test.

Life under McCullum had its moments, particularly early.

He swept his first series in charge against New Zealand, with an early defining moment of his leadership coming in the second Test, having reportedly told keeper Jonny Bairstow, “don’t even think about hitting one down (the ground), hit it into the stands!”

It prompted the Yorkshireman to strike 136 from 92 balls.

England swept Pakistan in Pakistan, breaking scoring records on some of the flattest pitches ever prepared for Test cricket.

However, in reality, the only series that go on the record for England come against Australia and India.

And McCullum couldn’t find a way to beat either.

‘Bazball’s’ rot can be traced back to the 2023 Ashes campaign on home shores, the hosts seemingly in the best position, with star all-rounder Stokes at McCullum’s side as Test skipper, since they last won the urn in 2015 to earn it back.

However, their kamikaze style and lack of responsibility saw them fall 0-2 after a Lord’s shambles that descended into farce after Alex Carey stumped Bairstow.

They battled back to save the series with a 2-2 draw, using the dying embers of Stuart Broad’s career, and him taking the winning wicket with his final ball in Test cricket, to hide the bitter taste of failure.

A trip to India in early 2025 produced a sign England had found something, Ollie Pope’s 196 leading them to a brilliant 28-run victory in Hyderabad.

They never got within 100 runs of the hosts again, steadily worked into the dirt until they surrendered the final match by an innings and 64 runs inside three days.

McCullum’s response to the capitulation became a catch-cry: England would “refine” their approach, but he actually felt his side were still too “timid”.

India entered their away series with England having not won a series there since 2007, while the English hadn’t knocked off India at home, or anywhere, since 2018.

The freshly named Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy started with a classic, England winning a nailbiter.

India responded with a 336-run pounding to even the series in Birmingham before England won another remarkable Test at Lord’s by 22 runs.

A drawn fourth Test gave England the ultimate stage at The Oval to break through and claim a scalp coming into the Ashes.

Chasing 374 for victory, the home side could taste victory at 3-301, but ‘Bazball’ fell apart on the brink of glory and validation, England crashing to a six-run loss, losing 7-66.

Stokes and McCullum vowed to go soul-searching before landing in Australia. What they found remains a mystery.

England snubbed any proper practise games after arriving in Australia, despite a strong portion of the group arriving in Perth early, including Stokes.

They were beaten inside two days at Optus Stadium, Travis Head beating them at their own ‘Bazball’ game on a tricky pitch.

It was a turning moment for Stokes, who called for calm heads and “men” to get to work.

But after England were beaten again under lights in Brisbane, McCullum had the opposite take.

“I actually felt like we over-prepared to be honest,” he said.

“I think sometimes when you’re in the heat of the battle, as we all know, sometimes the most important thing is to feel a bit fresh.”

The team then went on a little holiday in Noosa, out drinking and having fun.

Just a week later, the Ashes were over with a loss in Adelaide, and the memorable efforts to win the Boxing Day Test were washed away by the revelation that the young gun, and possible new captain, Harry Brooks, had confronted a bouncer in New Zealand ahead of the series.

The fractures between Stokes and McCullum were obvious by then, but the final nail was driven home last month as New Zealand beat them 2-1 in England, Stokes burning down the church of ‘Bazball’ mid-match as he declared he’d had enough.

Andy Flower, Jonathon Trott and Australian hero Justin Langer are among the names in the mix to take the reins, but they have a tough job to turn the ship around.