Gough, who took 467 international wickets, previously worked as Yorkshire\u2019s managing director of cricket but lost out to Marcus North in the race to become the new national selector.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
McCullum and red-ball captain Ben Stokes have retained their positions ahead of an upcoming three-Test series at home to New Zealand.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Baz McCullum is realistically very lucky to carry on as England\u2019s head coach,\u201d he told The Overlap\u2019s<\/i> Stick to Cricket show.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re not winning games your job is going to come under scrutiny. It\u2019s 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\u2019s been a big change and let\u2019s give it another couple of years.<\/p>\n
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\n Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
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FILE PHOTO: McCullum and red-ball captain Ben Stokes have retained their positions ahead of an upcoming three-Test series at home to New Zealand.
\n | Photo Credit:
\n Getty Images\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t 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\u2019d like to think we\u2019ll see that this summer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gough, asked if New Zealander McCullum would face increased scrutiny this season, added: \u201cAbsolutely. They\u2019re under pressure and they should be, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s any doubt about that.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for his failure to become England\u2019s new national selector, with the England and Wales Cricket Board preferring former Australia bastman North, a frustrated Gough said: \u201cI was disheartened. I\u2019ll be honest, it did hurt me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could have challenged them in the right areas. I\u2019m mature now, I\u2019m not like I was 10 years ago, a hothead. I\u2019ve mellowed a lot, I\u2019ve managed people.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy honest opinion was, if they went down the route of someone who\u2019d played for England, who has done all the roles in the game, I might just get this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Published on May 20, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n