Those who believe Brendon McCullum is making it up as he goes along were given more ammunition on Sunday when the England head coach indicated Ollie Pope will lose the vice-captaincy to Harry Brook and possibly his place in the team altogether come the Ashes.

Less than two months before England land in Australia, the timing was hardly ideal.

Yet in a Bazball universe where decisions often seem to be made up on the hoof, it is hardly a surprise.

Speaking after England’s home summer ended with a washed out T20 against South Africa at Trent Bridge, McCullum did the interview rounds ahead of a winter that will see him take the white-ball squad on a tour of his native New Zealand before the biggest series of them all kicks off in Perth on 21 November.

Among the standout lines were positive

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