Brendon McCullum named England white-ball coach in dramatic restructuring

By Tim Wigmore

Daily Telegraph UK·

3 Sep, 2024 06:30 PM5 mins to read

England men's test cricket coach Brendon McCullum. Photo / Photosport

Brendon McCullum has been appointed as England’s white-ball coach, as part of a dramatic restructure that puts him in charge of the Test, 50-over and T20 teams.

McCullum’s contract, which previously ran until early 2026, has been extended until the end of 2027. In that intense final year of the deal, McCullum will lead England in the next home Ashes, before overseeing the ODI World Cup campaign in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The New Zealander’s first tour as white-ball head coach will be to India in January, before the Champions Trophy the following month. After the sacking of Matthew Mott, Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim head coach against Australia later this month and for the white-ball tour of the Caribbean in November.

The appointment of McCullum appears to make Ben Stokes playing further international tournaments for England more likely. Stokes reversed his ODI retirement to play in the 2023 World Cup, but missed this year’s T20 World Cup. Other players who have thrived in the Test set-up under McCullum, including Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and this summer’s breakout stars Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson, could also figure more prominently in the white-ball set-up going forward.

While England’s Test team have thrived since the appointment of McCullum, the white-ball side won just three out of 12 matches against Test opponents across the 2023 ODI World Cup and this year’s T20 World Cup. McCullum will aim to oversee a swift return to the dominating performances that helped England become the first men’s side to hold both World Cup trophies simultaneously, after backing up the 2019 ODI World Cup win by lifting the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.

McCullum has a fine pedigree in the white-ball game. He scored a stunning 158 not out in the first ever Indian Premier League match, in 2008, and led New Zealand to their first ODI World Cup final, in 2015, playing a cavalier style of cricket. The adventurous style that New Zealand adopted was then the template for England’s white-ball rejuvenation under Eoin Morgan, who is a close friend of McCullum’s.

After retiring from playing, McCullum worked as head coach for both Kolkata Knight Riders and Trinbago Knight Riders. He led Trinbago to the Caribbean Premier League title in 2020 and Kolkata to the final of the 2021 IPL, when Morgan was captain.

When he was appointed England’s Test coach in May 2022, McCullum outlined why he was not keen on the white-ball job. “That didn’t interest me because the team is flying,” he said. “I wasn’t interested in a cushy kind of gig.”

The decline in the white-ball side since then means that McCullum will hope to replicate the rejuvenation that he has overseen in the Test side. Trescothick is likely to continue to deputise for some white-ball series, although scheduling clashes will become less common from next year.

Chris Silverwood was the last man to serve as all-format coach for England, doing the job from 2019 until 2022 before being sacked following a disastrous Ashes campaign.

After being appointed managing director of England men’s cricket, Rob Key decided to split the red and white-ball coaching jobs. Key previously described Silverwood’s role as all-format coach as “an impossible task”, but has now been persuaded that McCullum can do the role in all formats.

“I’m delighted that Brendon has chosen to do both roles now with England,” Key said. “I believe we are incredibly fortunate that a coach of his quality is prepared to commit wholeheartedly to English cricket.

“Being able to align all teams now is particularly exciting and we look forward to taking on all challenges that come our way.

“For the last two years, constant clashes between formats have made it challenging for the white-ball environment; fortunately, these are easing starting from January.

“The timing of the schedule [from January] will allow him to dedicate the necessary focus to both roles, and we’re confident this restructure will bring out the best in our players and coaching staff.”

McCullum said that he was relishing the chance to work with the white-ball captain, Jos Buttler.

“This new challenge is something I’m ready to embrace, and I’m eager to work closely with Jos and the team to build on the strong foundations that are already in place.

“Rob Key’s vision for the future of English cricket is something that really resonated with me. The idea of a unified coaching structure, especially with the schedule easing next year, made perfect sense. I’m energised by the prospect of guiding both teams and am grateful for the support from the ECB and my family as I take on these added responsibilities.

“The talent within English cricket is immense, and I’m looking forward to helping these players reach their full potential. My goal is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and where we can continue to compete at the highest level across all formats.”