Last Updated on 3 weeks ago by Charbel Coorey

In light of members of the England management – namely Brendon McCullum and Rob Key – keeping their jobs following a poor Ashes series, a number of players have spoken out against the regime.

After Liam Livingstone made scathing claims in mid-March, a host of other cricketers have shared similar insights. The common themes include how they were treated plus the lack of attention to detail, which was on display during England’s awful 4-1 defeat down under.

Footage has also emerged in recent days of Rob Key’s appearance on the Stick To Cricket podcast, which do no favours in beating the allegations of poor focus on tactics and technique.

In addition, members of counties have expressed their disappointment. Sussex coach Paul Farbrace shed light on the disconnect between county cricket and the England team, claiming head coach McCullum “makes no contact with people.”

England players who have criticised the management

Liam Livingstone

In an interview with ESPNcricinfo published on March 16, Liam Livingstone says he was told he “cares too much” when requesting advice from coaches. He also claimed the management only cares about players in the squad and labelled the 2025 Champions Trophy “the worst experience” of his career spanning 100 internationals.

 “I was asking for help and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit, and everything will take care of itself,” he said.

When Livingstone was dropped for England’s series against West Indies in May 2025, he sought an answer he did not get.

“I don’t think it [the call] would have reached a minute [with Brendon McCullum]. I asked why; they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Wrighty [outgoing selector Luke Wright] didn’t reach out, and Brooky [captain Harry Brook] sent me a text,” Livingstone said.

“That probably sums that group up as a collective. Keysy said nothing – [he] said I’ll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough. And then I didn’t hear off him until the end of September.

“That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you’re in, you’re in, and if you’re not in, no-one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward.”

Then, in a shocking revelation, Livingstone alleges that Rob Key said he had “100 more important things to do than speak to you” when the all-rounder asked the managing director about the lack of communication.

Reece Topley

Left-arm seam bowler Reece Topley believes Livingstone was kind in his comments. In an interview with The Cricketer, Topley said the all-rounder was not alone in his thoughts on the management.

“I think Liam Livingstone has been a bit kind with his views on the England management; shall we leave it like that?” Topley said.

“But I’m not surprised by what he said. The communication hasn’t been great for me, either. But when you appoint a manager who has no experience of management, what do you expect?

“He [assumption is Rob Key] knows what I think. We have mutual friends, and out of respect to them, I don’t want to say any more. But Livingstone isn’t the only one thinking those things.”

Ben Foakes

Further to England’s decision to not have a fielding coach for the Ashes, Ben Foakes’ statements on the coaching appointments are damning.

Foakes, considered one of the finest wicket-keepers in world cricket, shed light on the shocking attention to detail during England’s tour of Pakistan in 2022.

“I found it difficult not having someone [a specialist keeping coach]. In Pakistan, Keaton Jennings was my keeping coach,” Foakes said in an interview with The Cricketer.

Foakes then revealed he spoke to management on the issue. However, he claims to have received pushback.

“I did bring it up, but they didn’t want that sort of culture. They want to tighten it. They wanted everyone to kind of muck in for each other,” Foakes said.

Jonny Bairstow

Jonny Bairstow, one of the early stars of Bazball, shared similar views to Livingstone.

“You need the care back in the game. It is OK saying people care about things – no they don’t,” Bairstow said, as quoted by BBC.

“If you are in the system, you are in the system. As soon as you are out of the system, you are out of the system.”

Bairstow also highlighted the lack of accountability in the squad.

“As soon as you don’t have people chasing you up your back side you become comfortable,” he said.

“When you become comfortable you become complacent, and when someone questions you directly you are not used to it because you are in an environment that is potentially not questioning you in a different way.”

David Willey

To top it off, England’s hierarchy need “more emotional intelligence”, said David Willey.