Brendon McCullum has been appointed as England’s new men’s white-ball head coach, adding to his current role as the Test team coach. This move is part of a “strategic restructure” by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). McCullum has signed a new three-year deal, which means he will oversee England’s white-ball teams through to the 2027 World Cup in South Africa, while also coaching the Test team up to the next Ashes series in 2027.
McCullum’s dual role will officially begin in January 2025, with Marcus Trescothick continuing as the interim head coach for England’s upcoming white-ball series against Australia and their tour of the Caribbean in November. McCullum’s appointment follows the end of Matthew Mott as the white-ball coach in July, after disappointing performances in both the 50-over and 20-over World Cups. The ECB, led by Rob Key, was keen to secure a top candidate for the role, especially after several prominent names, including Ricky Ponting and Eoin Morgan, ruled themselves out.
Brendon McCullum Set to Bring his “Bazball” Approach to England’s White-ball Cricket
Although McCullum initially showed little interest in the white-ball coaching role, his success with the Test team, particularly the “Bazball” approach that has revolutionized England’s Test cricket, convinced him to take on the challenge. He will now bring this same positive mindset to England’s white-ball teams, which are captained by Jos Buttler and are expected to go through significant changes in the coming years.
“I’m excited to extend my role to include the white-ball sides,” McCullum said. “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 already in place.”
Rob Key expressed his happiness with McCullum’s decision, emphasizing the advantages of having a unified coaching structure, particularly as the cricket schedule eases from 2025 onwards. He believes this change will help bring out the best in both the players and the coaching staff.
McCullum also emphasized his commitment to nurturing the talent within English cricket and creating an environment where players can thrive across all formats. He is due to take a short break in New Zealand after the current series against Sri Lanka before rejoining the Test squad for their tour of Pakistan in October.
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