Brendon McCulum and Rob Key set to retain support of ECB

Head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key look likely to retain the support of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) despite a disappointing winter.

England's agonising defeat by India in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup on Thursday followed an awful 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia and a white-ball tour of New Zealand where captain Harry Brook was punched by a nightclub bouncer.

Towards the end of the Ashes, it was learned that senior figures at the ECB were keen to resist making sweeping changes in the management of the men's team. According to multiple sources, that feeling has not changed.

ECB chief executive Richard Gould previously announced there would be a review into the Ashes, and that has led to some small alterations to the men's team set-up and the make-up of the board.

Key has not spoken publicly since before the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne in December, when he said he wanted to remain in his job.

McCullum has regularly been asked about his future, and after England's loss in the World Cup semi-finals the New Zealander said he wants to continue.

"I'm enjoying the role across all formats and I'd love to carry that on," he told BBC Sport.

It is understood the former Black Caps captain has already started to discuss plans for the home summer.

McCullum is now due to return home and there could be further talks before it is confirmed the status quo will remain.

The ECB may also choose to reveal further conclusions from the Ashes review in the coming weeks.

The tour of Australia was blighted by mistakes on and off the field.

England were accused of a lack of adequate preparation, playing only one warm-up match against England Lions at a club ground in Perth before the first Test.

Despite the Brook incident, which took place on the eve of the third one-day international against New Zealand in Wellington prior to the Ashes series, England's alcohol consumption in Australia came under scrutiny. Opener Ben Duckett was captured on video by a member of the public, apparently drunk during a mid-series holiday in Noosa.

Without a specialist fielding coach, England's efforts in the Test series were severely hampered by dropped catches.

Since the tour of Australia, England have employed fielding coach Carl Hopkinson for part of the World Cup and their white-ball tour of Sri Lanka. They have also imposed a midnight curfew on players and staff.

Luke Wright has left his post as national selector of the men's teams, though that was a personal decision rather than linked to the Ashes.

Talks between the ECB and Cricket Australia have resulted in the prospect of the two boards agreeing on improved arrangements for preparation for future Ashes series in both countries.

And the ECB plans to make a new non-executive appointment to its board in order to boost cricketing expertise.

In Australia, Test captain Ben Stokes threw his support behind McCullum, who is contracted until the autumn of 2027.

That support was echoed by Brook on Thursday, who said McCullum should "125%" remain in charge.

"I've said plenty of times he's the best coach I've ever had," said Brook. "Our partnership has been good throughout the competition and since I've taken over. Long may it continue."

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