\n<\/p>\n
Whatever happens there, the one England must keep in place is Ben Stokes as captain.<\/p>\n
They cannot afford for McCullum to go and Stokes to follow suit.<\/p>\n
Yes, he has been as much part of the mantra as McCullum, but his comments in this series have shown he wants more.<\/p>\n
I do not think he has had a great series as captain.<\/p>\n
Why Josh Tongue was not given the new ball sooner than the final day of the series I do not know and some of Stokes’ fielding positions or tactical decisions have been off.<\/p>\n
But he is the best leader England have. Certainly Brook, Stokes’ vice-captain, has shown he is a million miles from being suitable to lead England’s Test team.<\/p>\n
Brook batted irresponsibly from the start, has not learned and now needs to really go away and look at his game. <\/p>\n
If he does not, he will fall well short of what he is capable of, which would be a real waste.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the other changes, I hope we have not seen the last of Pope because he is a talented batsman.<\/p>\n
England have to move on from Will Jacks, who is not a good enough bowler to be the sole spinner in a Test attack.<\/p>\n
The real interesting one is wicketkeeper Smith. Who will be behind the stumps for England’s first Test next summer?<\/p>\n
The way Smith has shrivelled here, with 211 runs across 10 innings at an average of 23.44, as well as dropped catches, is a matter of serious concern.<\/p>\n
In truth, the only players who can leave the tour with their heads held high are Tongue and Jacob Bethell.<\/p>\n
Brydon Carse was given the wrong role – he is someone who comes on first change and runs in hard while bowling long spells rather than an opening bowler – but deserves credit for the way he continued to charge in throughout five Tests.<\/p>\n
Bethell’s 154 in Sydney was an innings of someone who has played 50 Tests rather than five.<\/p>\n
Brook should take a leaf out of his book when trying to work out how to play proper Test innings.<\/p>\n
After a tour that began with so much hope, there is very little to cheer.<\/p>\n
Jonathan Agnew was speaking to BBC Sport’s Matthew Henry<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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