T20 World Cup: Brendon McCullum wants to stay as England coach – but will that be enough?

Brock and McCollum also maintained high spirits during this trip, an impressive feat considering what has come before.

The tour began with Brock standing in front of the group at a Colombo hotel and apologizing to his teammates for his adventures in Wellington.

In the end, he took the blame again, but this time for a hunting downfall rather than any flight into the night.

Brook’s dropping of Sanju Samson should not distract from the clear improvement in play during this tournament, under the watchful eye of re-appointed fielding coach Carl Hopkinson.

A hasty approach to training was another accusation leveled in Australia, but here England trained hard, often training longer than expected at night.

While that should be seen as par for the course, McCollum and Brook also deserve credit for their tactical calls on this trip.

Liam Dawson and Sam Curran were called upon to relative success, while Will Jacks excelled in a new role as the finisher.

Brook played the innings of his T20 career after McCullum suggested a move to number three.

But doubts clearly remain as to whether that will be enough to save McCullum, having taken England to a point seen as the minimum before a ball is bowled.

Making your future depend on a World Cup semi-final against India in Mumbai is the toughest thing to do in schools, but this was a situation of McCullum’s making.

It was he who oversaw the Ashes planning which did not include a warm-up match, and allowed for a mid-series trip to Noosa.

It was under McCullum’s watch that Brook, Jacob Bethell and Josh Tong felt able to visit a nightclub the night before the international.

We should not and cannot forget how bad ash is.

Other key stakeholders are managing director Rob Key and Test captain Ben Stokes, who are back in the UK after starting the week in the UAE with England.

Ki has spent some time around the team during this tournament and his position will also be discussed by the people mentioned above.

Stokes is considered the safest, although he and McCullum have seemed conflicted in their messages at times in Australia.

Stokes hit 152 balls for 50 runs in Brisbane and called on his side to “show a little dog” in Adelaide but when another defeat came five days later, ensuring Australia would stick with the urn, McCullum spoke of his disappointment that England had deviated from their attacking style of play.

Despite this, Stokes backed McCullum before and after the fifth Test in Sydney when he could have been more uncertain.

Brook was also steadfast in his defense of McCullum on Thursday night, saying the former New Zealand skipper was “125%” the man to keep going.

“The things he has done over the four years since taking charge have changed English cricket for the better,” Brook said.

“He’s the best coach I’ve ever seen.”

Critics might say that it is not surprising that the players support a coach whose basic philosophy is to provide a comfortable environment.

There is a lot to consider over the coming weeks.

McCollum wants to stay and his players still believe in him. Will that be enough?