{"id":366032,"date":"2026-07-14T08:17:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T02:47:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=366032"},"modified":"2026-07-14T08:17:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T02:47:10","slug":"brendon-mccullum-sacked-as-england-test-coach-but-stays-in-command-of-white-ball-set-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/14\/brendon-mccullum-sacked-as-england-test-coach-but-stays-in-command-of-white-ball-set-up\/","title":{"rendered":"Brendon McCullum sacked as England Test coach but stays in command of white-ball set-up"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Brendon McCullum has left his role as England\u2019s Test head coach but will remain in command of the white-ball set-up.<\/strong><\/p>\n

McCullum has paid the value for a poor run of red-ball form with a 4-1 defeat in last winter\u2019s Ashes followed by a 2-1 home loss to Latest Zealand last month, which occurred amid the backdrop of one other off-the-field incident under the watch of the Kiwi coach.<\/p>\n

Ben Stokes announced his international retirement midway through defeat at Trent Bridge and that may prove the ultimate Test of McCullum\u2019s England red-ball tenure.<\/p>\n

It began in extraordinary fashion in 2022 with \u2018Bazball\u2019 taking the cricket world by storm. <\/p>\n

For exclusive stories and all of the detailed\u00a0cricket\u00a0news\u00a0you wish,\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>subscribe to The Cricket Paper<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0website,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0digital edition, or\u00a0newspaper<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0from as little as 14p a day<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

FOLLOW OUR LIVE SCORES CENTRE<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Brendon\"Brendon
POOR FORM: Brendon McCullum\u2019s last Test in charge led to defeat by Latest Zealand
\nPICTURE: Mike Egerton\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Right time for change<\/h2>\n

England\u2019s daring and fresh attack-minded approach under McCullum and Stokes led to 3-0 series wins over Latest Zealand and in Pakistan, where 500 runs were scored in in the future, before an exhilarating 2-2 home Ashes in 2023, however the trajectory soon modified.<\/p>\n

A 4-1 thumping in India two years ago exposed England\u2019s stubborn and at times naive mantra and together with multiple disciplinary issues, McCullum has lost his Test role months after the overseas Ashes were lost in 11 days during an abject tour of Australia.<\/p>\n

It leaves England in need of a brand new head coach and captain for red-ball cricket.<\/p>\n

Richard Gould, the England and Wales Cricket Board\u2019s chief executive officer, said: \u201cBrendon breathed latest life into England men\u2019s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories and we\u2019re grateful for all he has given to the role.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe now consider that the time is correct to make a change for the Test team as we goal victory within the Ashes next summer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Brendon\"Brendon
EXIT: Brendon McCullum has left his role as England\u2019s Test head coach
\nPICTURE: Joe Giddens\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Foundations<\/h2>\n

Rob Key had faced scrutiny after a 4-1 loss to Australia but while Stokes and now McCullum have left their roles, he believes the red-ball set-up are \u201cpoised to realize great things\u201d on the foundations set by two figures which have left a mark on Test cricket.<\/p>\n

\u201cA few of England\u2019s most memorable moments in recent history have occurred under Brendon\u2019s leadership of the Test team,\u201d Key said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an absolute privilege to observe him shape the mentality of the team, to 1 the players have loved and see him develop a brand new generation of talent who shall be at the guts of England men\u2019s teams for years to come back.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe leaves the Test team well-set and poised to realize great things.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Brendon\"Brendon
CURTAIN FALLS: The departures of Brendon McCullum (left) and Ben Stokes mark the tip of an era in Test cricket
PICTURE: Robbie Stephenson\/PA
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Gutted<\/h2>\n

This news occurred the day after England\u2019s T20 team thrashed India by a 56-run margin at Ageas Bowl to seal a 4-0 Vitality Series win under McCullum.<\/p>\n

McCullum, who took on the white-ball role in 2024 and can remain in command of the one-day set-up, won 25 of his 44 Tests and said that while he was \u201cgutted\u201d to depart the Test role, he \u201crespects\u201d the choice to make a change.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I\u2019m incredibly pleased with what we\u2019ve achieved together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019ve been some unbelievable highs and a number of tough days along the best way, but that\u2019s all a part of taking over a challenge like this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a privilege and an honour, and I\u2019m grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact I\u2019m gutted to not be continuing, but I respect the choice. My focus now could be on giving all the things I\u2019ve got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish the Test team nothing but success. There\u2019s a hell of a variety of talent in that dressing room and so they\u2019re a special bunch of lads.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll at all times be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the sport on. I do know they\u2019ll proceed to make people proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Andy\"Andy
NEXT UP?: Andy Flower has been mentioned as a possible substitute
PICTURE: Mike Egerton\/PA
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Next up?<\/h2>\n

Former Australia captains Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting have each been touted for as possible England coaches prior to now, while a second stint on the helm for Zimbabwean Andy Flower would even be a well-liked option.<\/p>\n

Flower previously served between 2009 and 2014, and oversaw three successful Ashes campaigns \u2013 including their last away success in 2010-11. Domestically, Surrey\u2019s three-time County Championship winner Gareth Barry and Gloucestershire\u2019s highly rated Richard Dawson are well considered.<\/p>\n

Andrew Flintoff has also been spoken of as a future England coach by Key, who’s an in depth friend, and he’s effectively an internal candidate attributable to his role in command of the England Lions setup. <\/p>\n

Whether he has the experience to oversee a rebuild of the Test regime is less clear.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/em><\/strong> England go to no.1 in style and wrap up 4-0 T20 series victory over India<\/p>\n

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Brendon McCullum has left his role as England\u2019s Test head coach but will remain in command of the white-ball set-up. McCullum has paid the value for a poor run of red-ball form with a 4-1 defeat in last winter\u2019s Ashes followed by a 2-1 home loss to Latest Zealand last month, which occurred amid the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":366033,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20675],"tags":[16684,4223,835,5386,16685,10715,20728,6286,4344,15203],"class_list":["post-366032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket","tag-brendon","tag-charge","tag-coach","tag-england","tag-mccullum","tag-remains","tag-sacked","tag-setup","tag-test","tag-whiteball"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t