England Test coach Brendon McCullum has been given the additional responsibility to take charge of all three formats of the nation’s teams in a bid to reinvigorate the struggling white-ball sides. McCullum, who has been instrumental in revitalizing England’s Test set-up since 2022, will bring his attacking “Bazball” approach to the limited-overs teams. The 42-year-old has extended his contract until the end of 2027 and will officially take over the one-day international and Twenty20 sides in January to coincide with upcoming tours.
The England and Wales Cricket Board announced that the decision to broaden McCullum’s role was part of a strategic restructure of the men’s set-up. Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket, expressed his excitement about having a coach of McCullum’s quality commit wholeheartedly to English cricket. The aim is to align all teams under McCullum’s leadership, starting in January, and take on the challenges that come their way. The constant clashes between formats in the past had made it challenging for the white-ball environment, but these issues are now being eased.
McCullum, a former New Zealand captain known for his attacking batting, expressed his excitement about extending his role with England. He is ready to embrace the new challenge and work closely with captain Jos Buttler and the team to build on the strong foundations in place. McCullum acknowledged the immense talent within English cricket and is looking forward to helping the players reach their full potential. The former New Zealand captain inherits a white-ball outfit that has recently missed out on titles and is currently ranked seventh in ODI cricket and fourth in T20 standings.
As England gears up to win back the titles they lost, McCullum will lead the team into the next T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, followed by the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in 2027. In the meantime, former England batter Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim head coach for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia at home and the tour of the Caribbean. McCullum’s leadership with the Test side has been successful, with England winning 19 of their 28 Tests since he took charge in 2022, despite a disappointing defeat in India.
McCullum’s approach, known for its attacking nature and high scoring rate, has been instrumental in the resurgence of England’s Test team. The upcoming challenges in the white-ball formats will be a new frontier for McCullum, but his experience and coaching abilities are expected to make a significant impact. The English cricket board is hopeful that under McCullum’s guidance, the white-ball sides will see a turnaround in their fortunes and climb up the rankings. With a focus on developing the immense talent within English cricket, McCullum’s tenure is expected to bring a fresh perspective and energy to the limited-overs teams.
