Brendon McCullum has hailed his successor Stephen Fleming as "like me, but better", after England appointed his former New Zealand teammate as Test coach.

Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell believes his standing up to the stumps in England -- a move that helped kill off the "Bazball" era -- was a case of New Zealand shelving their egos for the good of the team.

England cricket chief Rob Key has left the door open for a dramatic international comeback by former Test captain Ben Stokes, who announced his shock retirement in late June.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the appointments after sacking McCullum as Test coach and following the shock retirement of Stokes earlier this month.

Andy Flower has ruled himself out of contention to replace Brendon McCullum as England's new Test head coach after being linked with a second spell in the role.

Sacked England Test coach Brendon McCullum apologised for the team's results during his tenure on Monday, saying he had failed to deliver the success the side wanted.

England have lost seven of their last nine Tests under the former New Zealand captain.

England coach Brendon McCullum has dismissed speculation of a rift with Test captain Ben Stokes, saying he was amused by suggestions their relationship had soured.

England coach Brendon McCullum has denied his relationship with Ben Stokes was damaged by the nightclub controversy that forced the captain into exile for the second Test defeat against New Zealand.

Ben Stokes will return as England captain for next week's third and deciding Test against New Zealand in Nottingham, head coach Brendon McCullum announced on Sunday.

England captain Ben Stokes has played down reports of disagreements with head coach Brendon McCullum but added that they do have different viewpoints at times.

Ben Stokes's men were hammered 4-1 on their five-Test tour of Australia, which started in November and ended in January.

Senior England player Jos Buttler on Tuesday backed under-fire Brendon McCullum, saying the New Zealander was "as sharp a coach as I've ever worked with".

England Test captain Ben Stokes has suffered a severe facial injury after being struck by a cricket ball.

England will limp home from Australia after a humbling 4-1 Ashes defeat but appear likely to stick with the regime of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, who have vowed to learn lessons from a painful tour.

Ben Stokes has urged England chiefs to keep faith with "Bazball" architect Brendon McCullum despite a stinging Ashes defeat in Australia.

England managing director Rob Key pledged Tuesday to investigate whether players' drinking on a mid-Ashes beach break went too far, after reports said it had been like a "stag-do."

England coach Brendon McCullum wants to stay in his job despite a chastening Ashes series defeat but admits his future is out of his hands.

Bazball's champions, coach Brendon 'Baz' McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, may argue otherwise and claim England's death-or-glory style can be retooled and rise again.

Defiant England coach Brendon McCullum brushed off concerns Sunday that his job was on the line heading into the third Test against Australia, while admitting the team have been "nowhere near" their best.