England have been on slide for 18 months, says Ken Schofield Past their peak: Ken Schofield (right) chaired a review of English cricket following the Ashes whitewash in 2006-07. One of the architects of the resurgence of English cricket, which came to a screeching halt this summer, believes Andy Flower's team peaked 18 months before they surrendered the urn to Australia. But Ken Schofield, who penned the old enemy's version of Cricket Australia's Argus report after their whitewash in 2006-07, does not believe England needs wholesale changes to their team or their cricket system. Nor does he believe another in-depth review is required, despite their annihilation by Michael Clarke's men. Schofield, who was executive director of golf's European Tour for nearly 30 years, believes the England team has been on the slide since being beaten at home by South Africa in 2012 under Andrew Strauss - a defeat that cost them the No.1 Test ranking. "I think it shows this particular side, which I see as a continuum of the Strauss-Cook side with the same senior players, probably peaked [just before] they lost at home to South Africa," Schofield said. In what proved to be a sign of things to come for England, they unravelled in the face of high-class fast bowling from South Africa's gun trio of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel, but they bounced back to defeat India on the subcontinent. Schofield's views on the state of the England team were consistent with Ricky Ponting's pre-series assessment when he tipped an Australian team on the up would give Cook's visiting side a huge run, though few anticipated such a one-sided series. But Schofield, whose 2007 report recommended the implementation of the existing structure in the English game, called for a calm approach when reviewing England's debacle this summer. To be clear on this, the first thing must be to say to the Australian team, they've come forward very, very strongly in all departments. Does that mean England should change the system? Does it mean they should make wholesale changes of the team? Does it mean they need a fresh look at identifying further fresh faces and take a look at their own internals as to why they've been outplayed in every department - the answer to that is yes. You don't chuck everything out in one go. We're getting well beaten by a rejuvenated Australian team at home who had a lot to prove. Flower's coaching future remains unclear after his first Ashes defeat, with speculation mounting he may not carry on, but Schofield remained a strong supporter of the coach. I would like to think the fact these results have gone so wrong would want him to have another go and not leave on a negative. Only he would know," Schofield said. But I would think everyone in English cricket and British sport wants Andy Flower to go on - we think the world of him.