Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott launched a scathing attack on the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) leadership for not sacking head coach Brendon McCullum and director Rob Key following the disastrous Ashes campaign in Australia.

In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott argued that retaining McCullum shows the ECB is ignoring failures in both performance and team discipline.

Boycott also targeted ECB CEO Richard Gould’s background, questioning how a former army man and football administrator has the experience to conduct a critical review of cricket operations.

The legendary England opener slammed the review process, wondering what "planet" the ECB CEO was on for finding no one to blame for the 4-1 debacle.

“The review was done by Richard Gould, the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, who has never played county or Test match cricket, and he decided nobody is to blame. What planet is he on? Is he oblivious to what the majority of former England players and cricket journalists are saying? Gould says it will not be a popular decision to keep Brendon McCullum and he is damn right," Boycott wrote.

“I’m sure they promised him they would do better, but leopards don’t change their spots, so it looks like we will get the same type of Test cricket. This summer, England will flatter by probably beating New Zealand and definitely beating Pakistan and our chief executive will preen himself saying ‘what a good job I did keeping Rob and Brendon’," he added.

Boycott accused Key and McCullum of sabotaging England's chances Down Under, claiming that this particular Australian team was vulnerable, presenting a rare opportunity for a series win that was wasted due to lack of proper pre-planning, poor selection, and a flawed team mindset under the duo.

“But what can never be erased is that the incompetence of Key and McCullum sabotaged our chances of defeating Australia in Australia when they were at their most vulnerable and there for the taking – that sort of opportunity rarely comes along. These two were in charge of selection, pre-planning and the mindset of the players, and they blew it," Boycott remarked.

Geoffrey Boycott expressed severe skepticism regarding the Key-McCullum leadership pairing for the 2027 home Ashes, suggesting that a repeat of poor performances should lead to the dismissal of the ECB hierarchy.

“If we play as badly in the next Ashes in England, then most of the ECB hierarchy should get the sack," he said.