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England faced criticism and scrutiny from their Ashes capitulation unlike ever before, with their off-field behaviour and attitude brought into question alongside the poor results.

Following that, the five-match series at home to India and the Ashes away in Australia this winter will shape the leadership legacies of Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key.

Knight was sacked in March as a result of a review into the humiliating 16-0 Ashes defeat earlier in the year.

He scored 103 runs and took five wickets in the drawn 2023 Ashes and by the end of the series had lost his place to Mitchell Marsh.

Ashes covered a guest book opened to a page with its last signature dated Jan. 6.