All posts tagged: McCullum

McCullum after stepping down as England Test coach

McCullum after stepping down as England Test coach

Published by Webster

3 min readJul 13, 2026 08:42 PM IST Former England Test head coach Brendon McCullum said while he was disappointed to be relieved of his duties in England’s red-ball format, it’s a results-oriented business and he and the team couldn’t deliver as promised, which the Kiwi coach apologized for. “I was disappointed initially but at the same time, it’s a results business. We didn’t get the results we wanted, and I’ll wear that. Fundamentally, it was a tap on the shoulder, and you crack on. I’ve loved my time with the Test team over the past four years – it’s been one of the most enjoyable periods I’ve had in the 20-odd years on the cricketing circuit,” McCullum said to Sky Sports. “I’m disappointed for all the fans that we couldn’t get the results that everyone wanted, and I’m sorry for that. But at the same time I’ve got an immense amount of enthusiasm and energy for the white-ball job, and looking forward to getting us where we want to get to, which is to …

After axing Brendon McCullum, England want RCB coach Andy Flower

After axing Brendon McCullum, England want RCB coach Andy Flower

Published by Webster

3 min readJul 12, 2026 09:13 PM IST With Brendon McCullum sacked as England Test team coach, Andy Flower is emerging as a front-runner to replace him according to reports. The former Zimbabwe captain, who coached England previously, is currently busy as T20 coach in the franchise circuit, most notably with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, should Flower take up the red-ball duties with England, reports say he would be allowed to continue coaching in the IPL. According to Daily Mail, Flower is likely to take up the job only if he is allowed to carry on with his T20 gigs, particularly the IPL. Flower has been the head coach of England before from 2009 to 2014 during which time they won their first T20 World Cup in 2010 and won the Ashes Down Under in 2012. But after a whitewash in 2014, he ended up losing the job. “For me, the best person for that would be Andy Flower by a country mile. Flower took England to number one in the world,” former England captain …

Brendon McCullum steps down as England Test coach, set to continue in white ball formats

Brendon McCullum steps down as England Test coach, set to continue in white ball formats

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Jul 12, 2026 06:50 PM IST The England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday confirmed that Brendon McCullum will step down as the head coach of the England Test team. He will, however, continue to lead the white ball teams, the release confirmed. “I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. There’ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that’s all part of taking on a challenge like this. It’s been a privilege and an honour, and I’m grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey,” McCullum said via he same release. “Of course I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the White Ball teams and helping England keep moving forward. I wish the Test team nothing but success. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room and they’re a special bunch …

McCullum on Ben Stokes’ sudden retirement

McCullum on Ben Stokes’ sudden retirement

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 30, 2026 04:47 PM IST After Ben Stokes caught the cricketing world off guard when he announced his retirement from international cricket in the middle of the 3rd England vs New Zealand Test on Sunday, England head coach Brendon McCullum revealed that he had tried to coax the then-England captain to reconsider his decision. “When he confirmed to me that he was going to retire, first I tried to talk him down and… (it) became pretty obvious that he had made his decision and he was at peace within,” McCullum told Sky Sports. “From that point of view, I guess your emotion then leads on to just a bit of sadness really because you have been on this journey together for four years and it’s been a real thrill. I feel very privileged that I’ve been able to work intimately with Stokesy throughout that and consider him a friend, a good friend,” he added. Stokes’ last match in England whites ended in defeat when they lost the third match to the Kiwis …

‘McCullum got to go with Stokes’: Former Ashes winner uses strong words and wants New Zealander out of England set-up

‘McCullum got to go with Stokes’: Former Ashes winner uses strong words and wants New Zealander out of England set-up

Published by Parlour News

Former England fast bowler and Ashes winner Steve Harmison wants head coach Brendon McCullum to quit too in the wake of the international retirement of Ben Stokes on Sunday, during day four of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum shared a great bond. (AFP) The 47-year-old, who played 63 Tests for England and took 226 wickets, is not happy with the Bazball cricket that McCullum has introduced in English cricket since taking over as a coach. After some initial success, it has floundered big time in recent months. They lost the Ashes 4-1 and, before they drew 2-2 at home against India. The ongoing series… they might end up losing too. They need 270 more to win with just six wickets in hand on the last day. Also Read: I believe Ben Stokes was pushed to the wall and he finally decided to break himself free of the shackles Harmison appears to be of the opinion that they were a partnership to take English cricket forward, and …

McCullum on Ben Stokes, Atkinson after nightclub incident

McCullum on Ben Stokes, Atkinson after nightclub incident

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Jun 15, 2026 11:08 PM IST England head coach Brendon McCullum said he was angry with Ben Stokes after the nightclub incident involving his captain and fast bowler Gus Atkinson that led to their omission from the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval. However, McCullum conveyed he is also concerned about Stokes and Atkinson. “You go from being bewildered, to angry, to gutted. Quickly through talking to Ben and Gus, my emotion turned to worry and concern, for Ben in particular,” McCullum told reporters on Monday. Stokes and Atkinson were dropped from England’s XI for the second Test, with veteran Joe Root being named interim captain. The pair breached the team’s midnight curfew and were reportedly present when an England security staff member was involved in an incident with a Saracens rugby player. McCullum said he is in constant touch with Stokes to ensure his well being, and decisions regarding his captaincy will be taken at a later stage. “Our concern is with Ben. Our concern is handling that situation, …

England hoping Jofra Archer is available for 2nd Test vs NZ, says Brendon McCullum

England hoping Jofra Archer is available for 2nd Test vs NZ, says Brendon McCullum

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 8, 2026 10:23 PM IST England head coach Brendon McCullum is hopeful of ace fast bowler Jofra Archer being available to play for their second Test against New Zealand at The Oval, having missed the first due to the quick turnover after the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). Archer’s decision to skip the first Test due to playing in the IPL was a topic of much controversy. “We are hopeful he will be available for the second Test. Then we will work out conditions-wise where we are at,” McCullum told reporters after England won the first test by 115 runs. “He is following a plan and we completely trust Jof. He has shown in the past that he gets himself ready based on the plans we get together and come up with. He has always turned up in the condition we want from him.” In Archer’s absence, Gus Atkinson, Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue combined to take 19 wickets in England’s low-scoring win at Lord’s on Sunday, and McCullum indicated Archer would …

‘Need to be quite malleable, depending on surfaces’: McCullum after ENG beat NZ | Cricket News

‘Need to be quite malleable, depending on surfaces’: McCullum after ENG beat NZ | Cricket News

Published by Webster

3 min readJun 7, 2026 07:11 PM IST England head coach Brendon McCullum was a relieved man with his team winning the Test against New Zealand on Sunday at Lord’s. The result comes at a time when the England cricket team has been going through a rough patch after losing the Ashes 4-1 to Australia earlier in the year. Against New Zealand too, most of their batters could do little when facing a pitch that was difficult to bat on with seamers getting all the purchase. But they ultimately held on as they went 1-0 up in the 3-match series. “We need to be quite malleable, depending on the surfaces we get. Nothing needs to be so binary to play one certain way. We need to be able to be adaptable and to adjust when required. I thought conversations that our boys had throughout the Test match, from a coach’s point of view, were fantastic. There was a real communication unfolding, and I think that allowed us to be slightly more adaptable when we needed. …

Why Michael Vaughan is ‘staggered’ that England head coach Brendon McCullum arrives in country just 5 days before 1st NZ Test on June 4 | Cricket News

Why Michael Vaughan is ‘staggered’ that England head coach Brendon McCullum arrives in country just 5 days before 1st NZ Test on June 4 | Cricket News

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Mar 25, 2026 04:50 PM IST Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said that post the heavy defeat to Australia in the Ashes, he found it staggering that head coach Brendon McCullum wasn’t in the country already in order to watch county cricket and scout talents from there in preparation for the New Zealand test series, set to start in June. “Now we are told there will be a greater emphasis on attention to detail. If that is the case, then Brendon should be here early this summer watching county cricket and meeting people face-to-face to rebuild bridges because a lot of people in the county system were more than happy to see England get royally beaten in Australia and that cannot be right,” Vaughan wrote for his column in The Telegraph. “McCullum is the highest-paid international coach in the world so expecting him to arrive in England earlier than five days before the first Test is surely the bare minimum. Instead he is having a Zoom call with the county directors of …

Why Michael Vaughan is ‘staggered’ that England head coach Brendon McCullum arrives in country just 5 days before 1st NZ Test on June 4 | Cricket News

‘Leopards don’t change their spots’: Geoffrey Boycott slams ECB over ‘worst Ashes tour’, warns England on sticking with Brendon McCullum | Cricket News

Published by Webster

4 min readMar 24, 2026 12:21 PM IST Former England captain and legendary batter Geoffrey Boycott has slammed the ECB chief executive Richard Gould and managing director Rob Key for the review into England’s Ashes defeat earlier in the summer. The 85-year-old questioned the process behind concluding that head coach Brendon McCullum would continue in his role, adding that Gould and Key would not win too many supporters to keep the former New Zealand captain in the job. “The worst pre-planned Ashes tour in my lifetime, and nobody is held to account or to blame? In the famous words of John McEnroe: “You cannot be serious.” The review was done by Richard Gould, the England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive, who has never played county or Test match cricket, and he decided nobody is to blame.” “What planet is he on? Is he oblivious to what the majority of former England players and cricket journalists are saying? Gould says it will not be a popular decision to keep Brendon McCullum, and he is damn …