In a breakout international summer, Cox impressed by scoring fifties in all three Tests when picked to bat number three against Pakistan. He also hit 76 against Sri Lanka when deputising for Buttler in the third ODI at The Oval on Sunday.

“I thought it was quite a Jos Buttler innings,” McCullum said.

“He has done really well domestically for a number of years and has been unlucky with injuries.

“For him to have the type of summer he has had and be in the position he is in, he deserves it.

“He is a phenomenal talent, is very well liked in dressing room as well and seems to be one of those guys who is good at everything he does, which will be incredibly annoying.”

England will also make a decision on whether to pick bowler Brydon Carse to tour Pakistan. He has not been selected since being arrested then de-arrested on a night out in Derby in August.

After a police investigation ended without action, he is now subject to a Cricket Regulator investigation and, while he remains available for selection, white-ball captain Harry Brook said last week he needs time away from the international scene.

McCullum, who began the summer as England’s coach across the three formats before being sacked from the Test role in July, dismissed any suggestion of regret at the end of the English season.

“I loved coaching all three formats,” he said. “Things move on, times change. I am biased but I genuinely think [new Test coach] Stephen Fleming will do an unbelievable job with the red-ball side.

“With the extra bit of time it probably does allow you to drill down on a few aspects you have identified you need to improve or shape things differently to get to where you want to.”

There will be Test Match Special commentary on England’s white-ball tours to Pakistan and Australia this autumn

German newspaper Der Spiegel had previously accused City of paying a “significant portion” of Mancini’s compensation “by way of a fictitious consultancy contract”.

It alleged that Mancini was paid more by City for his role as a consultant to Abu Dhabi club Al Jazira than he was getting from his role as City manager, excluding bonuses and incentives.

On Friday it emerged that an independent panel had found City guilty of all but one count of charges brought against them by the Premier League, although sanctions have yet to be determined.

The Premier League declined to comment, while City released a statement saying the “Premier League process remains ongoing with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality”.

It added: “The club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League board and executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence.”

Other Premier League clubs are believed to have been informed about the decision and have sought legal advice over possible compensation claims.

City were charged with more than 100 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules following a four-year investigation in February 2023.

The club was referred to an independent commission. A behind-closed-doors hearing began in September 2024 and ran for about 12 weeks.

Nathan Cleary has responded to the horrific ankle injury that has ruled him out of the Rugby League World Cup by declaring “I’ll be back.”

The Australia great, 28, will miss the tournament in his home country after suffering a compound fracture and dislocation to his left ankle while playing for Penrith Panthers in their NRL play-off defeat by Newcastle Knights on Sunday.

Half-back Cleary – who helped Australia win the World Cup in Manchester four years ago – needed emergency surgery in hospital after being injured in a tackle by Phoenix Crossland.

Knights hooker Crossland was sent off for a ‘hip-drop’ tackle – which the NRL outlawed in 2020.

A hip-drop tackle is committed when a defender grabs the runner with both hands or wraps them with both arms, and then swivels or drops the hips or lower body, landing on and trapping the opponent’s leg below the knees.

“Surgery done… Thank you so much to everyone that has reached out, the support has been unbelievable,” Cleary posted on Instagram.

“Yesterday sucked but it’s all part of the journey and it’s made me even more grateful for the people I have around me. I’ll be back.”

Cleary had started Sunday’s match on the bench because he was already carrying an injury to his right foot, which had a broken bone.

His father Ivan, the Panthers’ head coach, said afterwards that his son would have surgery on both feet.

“I think that’s why I was even more emotional on what happened to him, how hard he worked and what he put himself through to get himself to play today,” the coach said.

Crossland was referred to the NRL Judiciary over the tackle, and is likely to receive a lengthy ban which would not only rule him out of Sunday’s NRL Grand Final, in which Newcastle face Sydney Roosters, but may also affect his availability for New Zealand during the World Cup.

Australia will face New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup in Sydney on 15 October (10:05 BST). The two teams are also favourites to face each other in the final, in Brisbane on 15 November (08:35 GMT).