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England have appointed former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as their new men’s Test team coach on a four year deal.
The 40-year-old will be in place for England’s first test of the summer when they face the current world Champions at Lords on 2nd June. He succeeds Chris Silverwood, who left his position back in February after a disastrous Ashes campaign.
The appointment of McCullum continues England’s post Ashes overhaul. With Rob Key taking over as managing director last month, times are changing. England have a new test captain in Ben Stokes and now a new team coach, signifying the start of a new era in English cricket.
The ECB selection panel of Key, Andrew Strauss and chief executive Tom Harrison along with performance director Mo Bobat all agreed that McCullum was the right man to move England’s test side into this new direction.
England are now winless in nine tests, with only won one win in their last 17 overall. This is just a small indication of the job on the Kiwi’s hands.
McCullum, who retired from playing back in 2019, has never coached in first-class cricket, but has played over 100 tests for New Zealand from 2004 until 2016.
He has always been associated as a white-ball specialist coach having currently been put in charge of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders. He previously had a coaching position at affiliate club Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League, with the Trinidad and Tobago based outfit winning the tournament back in 2020.
It is reported that McCullum was initially approached with the view in mind to become coach of England’s white-ball side, but has now claimed the position of Test team coach ahead of former South African and India coach Gary Kirsten.
The new England boss captained New Zealand in 31 Tests, 62 ODI’s and 28 Twenty 20 internationals, leading them to the final of the 2015 World Cup, where they were beaten by their near-neighbours Australia.
There is no lack of star power now within the England setup, which leaves the pressure on to return this once great test side to a competitor over the red-ball format. Should this appointment be successful, then fans could be in for one of the most exciting periods of English cricket with McCullum at the helm with Ben Stokes as his captain.
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