Panesar Suggests Two-Year Stint for Shastri to Lead England to Ashes Glory

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has strongly advocated for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to appoint Ravi Shastri as the next Test coach for a two-year stint specifically aimed at regaining the Ashes in 2027. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Panesar argued that Shastri stands out as the ideal candidate due to his proven track record of winning Test series in Australia—a feat England has struggled to achieve, with their last victory Down Under coming in 2010-11. Shastri guided India to historic Test series triumphs in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, the latter accomplished under extraordinary circumstances with multiple injuries, key players absent, and Virat Kohli leaving after the first Test for paternity reasons. Panesar highlighted Shastri's ability to unite the team, read the game astutely, and demonstrate exceptional emotional intelligence—qualities he believes are currently lacking in England's setup under Brendon McCullum.

Panesar pointed out that Shastri's success in Australia was not limited to his coaching tenure. As a player, Shastri was a pivotal figure in India's 1985 World Championship of Cricket victory in Australia, where he was named Player of the Tournament and famously won an Audi car as the prize. Drawing from these experiences, Panesar insisted that Shastri possesses the unique "know-how" of defeating Australia on their home soil, something no current candidate—whether Australian, New Zealander, or English—can match. He proposed a targeted two-year assignment for Shastri focused solely on Test cricket and the Ashes, allowing him to reshape selection, strategy, and team culture with a fresh Indian perspective that could reinvigorate England's approach to the longest format.

The call comes amid growing criticism of the current England regime led by head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. England surrendered the 2025-26 Ashes series in just 11 days after comprehensive defeats in the first three tests, despite favorable circumstances such as the absence of several Australian stars, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Steve Smith, at various points. McCullum faced backlash for controversial statements, including his post-Brisbane comment that the team may have "trained a bit too much." Panesar echoed former captain Alastair Cook's recent remarks on the first day of the fourth Test in Melbourne, criticizing the disconnect between the England setup and the county system, where consistent performers are often overlooked in favor of players selected on potential.

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Panesar specifically cited examples such as the prolonged investment in spinner Shoaib Bashir despite his lack of readiness and the selection of all-rounder Will Jacks after minimal first-class experience, arguing that such decisions undermine confidence in the domestic pathway. He believes Shastri could bridge this gap by identifying and integrating top county performers, refreshing selection policies, and introducing a different voice to challenge the dominant Australian, New Zealand, and English influences in English cricket thinking. With England desperate to end their long wait for an Ashes victory in Australia and reclaim dominance in Test cricket, Panesar's left-field yet compelling suggestion of Ravi Shastri has sparked widespread debate about the direction the team needs to take.

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