Coach Brendon McCullum says he will not be told what to do but accepted there are “areas to improve” after England’s Ashes defeat.

Australia’s five-wicket victory in the fifth Test confirmed England’s 4-1 series defeat – a result that has brought the futures of McCullum, captain Ben Stokes and director Rob Key into question.

The management of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are minded to allow McCullum and Key to continue but there is a sense they must accept and enact change.

“I am not against assistance but have a firm belief in how to get the best out of these players,” McCullum told BBC Test Match Special.

“I will look at it individually and say ‘what could I have done better?’

“Am I for being told what to do? Of course I am not. But at the same time I’m not thinking there won’t be areas to improve.”

More to follow