Brendon McCullum has been appointed as the brand new head coach of England’s Test aspect, with director of males’s cricket Rob Key telling followers to “buckle up and get ready for the ride”.
The previous New Zealand captain will depart his job answerable for Indian Premier League Franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to take over a red-ball aspect that has fallen to backside place within the World Test Championship after a dire run of 1 win in 17 matches.
Main the revival is a sizeable job for the 40-year-old McCullum, who has by no means earlier than coached at first-class or Test stage, however he’s famend as one of many sport’s most progressive thinkers and dynamic leaders.
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As skipper, he set his personal nation on the trail to their present golden period, which has seen them end as runners-up in every of the final two World Cups and in addition declare the inaugural World Test Championship.
McCullum received over the England and Wales Cricket Board’s choice panel along with his passionate strategy.
He noticed off a powerful area to earn what is known to be a four-year contract, edging the likes of Gary Kirsten, whose credentials with South Africa and India had as soon as made him favorite to land the job.
Key, who led the nomination course of alongside ECB chief government Tom Harrison, strategic adviser Sir Andrew Strauss and efficiency director Mo Bobat, is enthused concerning the prospect of McCullum linking up with new Test skipper Ben Stokes.
“We are delighted to confirm Brendon as England men’s Test head coach. It has been a real privilege to get to know him and understand his views and vision for the game,” he stated.
“I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes – a formidable coach and captain partnership.
“Time for us all to buckle up and prepare for the experience. I imagine his appointment will likely be good for England’s Test workforce.
“He has a recent history of changing cricket culture and environments for the better, and I believe he is the person to do that for England’s red-ball cricket.
“We had been extremely lucky to have a critically sturdy checklist of high quality candidates for the put up, with Brendon demonstrating he was our primary selection.”
McCullum, who won 101 Test caps and retired from international cricket in 2016, made it clear that he has firm views about how to lift the team out of its current malaise.
“In taking this position on, I’m conscious about the numerous challenges the workforce faces at current, and I strongly imagine in my potential to assist the workforce emerge as a stronger drive as soon as we have confronted them head-on,” he stated.
“I’ve loved a number of strong conversations with Rob Key concerning the path of journey for the workforce and have discovered his enthusiasm contagious.
“I’m no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can’t wait to get started.
“Ben Stokes is the proper character to encourage change round him, and I stay up for working carefully with him to construct a profitable unit round us.”
Pending visa approvals, McCullum will arrive in the UK in time to lead a three-Test series against his home country next month.
England are nonetheless looking for a white-ball head coach, with inside candidate Paul Collingwood strongly tipped amongst one other sturdy pool of candidates.
