Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has been appointed head coach of England’s take a look at staff, the nation’s cricket board stated on Thursday.
Key factors:
- McCullum performed 101 Checks for New Zealand and recorded the quickest century within the format in his closing sport in 2016.
- The English Cricket Board was contemplating guard Paul Collingwood alongside former South Africa and India coach Gary Kirsten.
- McCullum will start his function in early June, with New Zealand visiting the UK for a three-test sequence.
McCullum changed Chris Silverwood, who stepped down in February after England misplaced 4-0 in Australia on the Ashes.
Paul Collingwood stepped in as a guard coach.
McCullum, 40, is presently in control of Indian Premier League Twenty20 aspect Kolkata Knight Riders.
However the England and Wales Cricket Board stated it could be in place to start its function when New Zealand visits for a three-test sequence kicking off at Lord’s on 2 June.
Rob Key, chairman of the board, stated: “We’re delighted to verify Brendon as England males’s take a look at head coach. It was an actual privilege to get to know him and perceive his views and imaginative and prescient for the sport.”
“He has a latest historical past of fixing cricket tradition and environments for the higher and I imagine he’s the one to do this for England’s crimson ball cricket.
With Brendon displaying as our primary alternative, we had been extremely fortunate to have a significantly robust record of high quality candidates for the publish.”
Whereas Collingwood was additionally thought-about, former South Africa and India head coach Gary Kirsten was linked to the function.
McCullum performed the final of his 101 exams in opposition to Australia in Christchurch in 2016, the place he set the quickest report of the century within the format (54 balls).
He completed his profession with 6,453 runs, together with 12 hundred and 31 half-centuries.
The staff shall be tasked with working with newly appointed take a look at captain Ben Stokes to avoid wasting England from collapse after profitable simply one among their final 17 video games.
Key described the pairing as “a tricky coach and captain partnership.”
McCullum stated he understands the enterprise forward.
“Ben Stokes is a wonderful character to encourage change round him and I sit up for working carefully with him to construct a profitable unit round us.”
Former England captain Michael Atherton stated McCullum was a “very daring and artistic alternative” by basic supervisor Key.
Along with teaching the Kolkata IPL sequence, McCullum has additionally labored with sister groups Trinbago Knight Riders within the T20 Caribbean Premier League.
Atherton stated McCullum’s restricted teaching expertise was not a priority.
“Restricted teaching expertise got here within the IPL… However he performed 100 exams, 300 take a look at matches and was crucial in his personal proper in take a look at cricket,” Atherton stated.
“… As a captain and chief, he has lots of expertise in take a look at match cricket.”