England have chosen the former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as the men’s coach for Test cricket on a four-year contract.
McCullum 40 will be present for England’s opening Test against the world champions livescore cz New Zealand at Lord’s on 2 June.
His successor is Chris Silverwood, who left his post in February following the brutal Ashes loss at the hands of Australia.
McCullum declared that he’s looking for “move the team to a more profitable time” along with the new team captain Ben Stokes.
He further stated: “In taking this role on, I am aware of the major issues facing the team in the present moment and I am confident that I have the ability to assist the team become stronger after we’ve taken on these challenges with a single-minded determination. “
England have lost in nine Tests, and only have one win in the 17 games they have played in the last 17 days.
McCullum’s appointment kicks off England’s post-Ashes revamp and includes Rob Key being appointed Director of Operations in the month of March in place of Andrew Strauss, who had been in on-call basis in the wake of the dismissal of Ashley Giles in February.
Root quit as captain following the one-sided defeat to the West Indies and was replaced by Stokes.
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) selectors comprised of Key the strategic adviser Strauss Chief executive Tom Harrison and performance director Mo Bobat said McCullum was the “outstanding candidate” for the job.
“I’ve had several lively discussions between myself and Rob Key about the direction of the team’s travels and have observed his enthusiasm infectious,” added McCullum.
“I’m not a stranger to making a difference in the team and I’m excited to begin.
“Ben Stokes has the ideal person to bring about the world around him to change, and I’m looking forward working with him to create an organization that is successful around us. “
McCullum who retired from cricket in 2019 has never been a coach in first-class cricket. However, he performed 101 matches in New Zealand from 2004 to the year 2016.
He is the head coaching for the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and previously guided Trinbago Knight Riders to the 2020 Caribbean Premier League title.
Kolkata are expected to exit the IPL on Wednesday, following the two remaining games in their group and McCullum is scheduled to make his debut in the UK at the end of this month.
The team for the opening match with New Zealand is set to be announced next week.
In search of Key’s successor to Silverwood, Key divided his England head coach post in white-ball and Test roles.
McCullum who is one of the closest friends of England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan was initially offered the white-ball position but has clinched the test post ahead of the former South Africa and India coach Gary Kirsten, who was considered to be the favourite for the post.
“It was an absolute pleasure to get to meet Brendon and get to know his thoughts and goals of the sport,” Key said. Key.
“He also has a short experience of changing the cricket culture and the environment for the better I believe that it is his time to accomplish that goal for the English white-ball game.
“I am a believer I have faith in Brendon And Ben Stokes – a formidable captain and coach team. It’s time to get buckled up and ready for the journey. “
Following three tests with New Zealand, England face India in the Fifth Test on July 5, before the three tests in the series against South Africa in August and September.
McCullum played for New Zealand in 31 Tests including 62 one-day internationals as well as 28 Twenty20 internationals. He led New Zealand to the 2015 50-over World Cup final, where they were defeated in the final by Australia.
His time being the Black Caps Test captain started an upswing that resulted in them winning the World Test Championship last year under his successor Kane Williamson.
In the wicketkeeper’s innings, the batsman scored 5,453 runs with the rate of 38.64 With 12 hundreds which included the fastest century in Test cricket of all time, using only 54 balls in the match against Australia in the year 2016.
England aren’t as near to naming their new white-ball coach. potential candidates to be talked to again in the coming week, before the first match in the season, which is a one-day three-match match in the Netherlands which starts on June 17.
Analysis
Australian Cricket commentator Jim Maxwell on BBC World Service’s”Stumped”
In the 140 years of Test cricket , it’s surely the most thrilling thing England have accomplished in terms of appointment.
He’ll require his team to be there but it’s it’s thrilling and English fans should be delighted the fact that they have Stokes and McCullum as two of the most exciting and inspirational players in the lead.
This could be one of the most exciting things that has happened in English cricket.
A former England batter and coach of the batting Mark Ramprakash on BBC Radio 4
McCullum’s lack in experience implies that this is an outside of the box thinking however Key must believe that he’s got the character to be a positive influence on the Test team.
McCullum often talks about being a positive route, but McCullum needs to show a bit more meat on the bones, regarding tactics for England’s Test team.
McCullum’s task, as well as Stokes to establish some consistency and to get the team playing higher-quality cricket.
