England Test coach Brendon McCullum will oversee the nation's teams across all three formats as part of an effort to rejuvenate the faltering white-ball sides, according to cricket authorities on Tuesday.
The New Zealander has revitalized England's Test setup alongside captain Ben Stokes since 2022 and aims to introduce his aggressive 'Bazball' strategy to the limited-overs squads. The 42-year-old has renewed his contract until the end of 2027, formally assuming control of the one-day international and Twenty20 teams in January, coinciding with a tour of India and the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
The England and Wales Cricket Board highlighted that McCullum's expanded role is part of a 'strategic restructure' of the men's setup. 'I believe we are incredibly fortunate that a coach of his caliber is willing to dedicate himself fully to English cricket,' stated Rob Key, managing director of England men's cricket. 'Being able to align all teams now is particularly exciting, and we look forward to tackling all challenges ahead.'
For the past two years, conflicts between formats have posed difficulties for the white-ball environment—fortunately, these are easing starting from January. McCullum, a former New Zealand captain renowned for his aggressive batting, expressed his excitement about extending his role with England. 'This new challenge is something I'm ready to embrace, and I'm eager to collaborate closely with Jos Buttler and the team to build on the solid foundations already in place,' he said. He added, 'The talent within English cricket is immense, and I'm looking forward to assisting these players in reaching their full potential.'
McCullum takes over a white-ball team that has relinquished titles in both limited-overs World Cups over the past 12 months, leading to the departure of former white-ball coach Matthew Mott in July. England is currently ranked seventh in ODI (50-over) cricket and fourth in the T20 standings. McCullum will lead England in their quest to reclaim the trophies, with the next T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka in 2026 and the 50-over equivalent in southern Africa in 2027.
Former England batter Marcus Trescothick will act as interim head coach for the forthcoming white-ball series against Australia at home and the tour of the Caribbean. When McCullum assumed control of England's Test side in May 2022, they were in a slump, having won only one out of 17 games. However, under his guidance, they have won 19 out of their 28 Tests since and score at an impressively fast pace. The most significant setback during his tenure was a heavy 4-1 loss in India.
