India, Jan. 9 -- Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has stirred the debate around England's red-ball direction by floating the idea of bringing back Andy Flower in the aftermath of the 2025-26 Ashes drubbing. With England going down 1-4, scrutiny has intensified on Brendon McCullum and the methods that once promised a bold reset. Pietersen's comments come at a time when patience around the Bazball philosophy appears to be thinning, particularly after a series marked by repeated batting collapses. England's aggressive intent often crossed into carelessness, leaving them unable to build pressure or capitalise on key moments.

England's struggles to read conditions and respond to shifting phases of a game have fuelled fresh debate over w...