Brendon McCullum has expressed regret for the unsatisfactory conclusion of his career as England’s Test coach, stating that “it’s time for someone else to have a go” and maintaining that it is “romantic” that both his and former captain Ben Stokes’ tenures ended in the same game.
After managing seven losses in the team’s last nine Test matches, McCullum—who will continue to supervise England’s limited-overs setup—was removed from his red-ball position, which he has held since 2022.
In a statement issued by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday, the former captain of New Zealand was reported to have “stood down,” but McCullum readily acknowledged on Monday that he had been fired.
“Yeah, I got a tap on the shoulder,” AFP quoted McCullum telling reporters in Birmingham on the eve of the first one-day international against India at Edgbaston.
“I was disappointed but at the same time I fully respect the decision. We’re in a results business and fundamentally our results weren’t good enough. It’s time for someone else to have a go. We didn’t always get it right. For that, I put my hand up.”
Stokes’ tenure as red-ball coach came to an end with England’s recent 1-2 defeat at home to New Zealand, which resulted in Stokes’ international retirement.
But after a terrible 1-4 Ashes loss in Australia in January, where the England team was accused of encouraging a drinking culture, the 44-year-old McCullum’s days were running out.
England’s lackluster record in major series against the other members of the so-called “Big Three” was furthered by this, as they lost away to Australia and India and drew 2-2 at home against both nations.
“We just weren’t quite able to win those big series, against India and Australia, the two marquee series,” said McCullum.
“We just weren’t able to get the results and for that I guess I can only say sorry. I was the leader of that group. I was in charge of the team culturally, in charge of the team tactically, in charge of the team results-wise as well.”
McCullum added: “If you don’t get the results, being a results business, fundamentally you get replaced. I’ve been around this game for 20-odd years and I know if you aren’t getting the results, someone else needs an opportunity. I put my hand up for that and accept it wasn’t good enough.”
McCullum is encouraged by England’s 4-0 clean sweep of the T20 world champions going into the three-match ODI campaign against India.
However, England run the risk of repeating the conflicts between Andy Flower and Ashley Giles on player availability from 2012 to 2014 by switching back to separate coaches for Test and white-ball cricket.
Flower has been hailed as McCullum’s red-ball successor. Flower is a three-time Ashes winner who, during his previous tenure, guided England to the top of the Test rankings.
“Once the new coach comes into play we will sit down and unpick a lot of this stuff,” McCullum said. “I’m sure that will be a collaborative process.”
The all-rounder abruptly announced his retirement from England service during the series finale against New Zealand at Trent Bridge less than two weeks ago, and McCullum thought it was fitting that his final Test in charge also marked the end of Stokes’ presence on the international scene.
When they first got together four years ago, they were the main drivers behind England’s aggressive “Bazball” style of Test cricket.
“I got some nice messages from Stokesy, actually. I guess, in a romantic kind of way there’s something about Stokesy and me going out together. We started it together and we go out together, and I have no problem with that,” McCullum told the BBC.
