McCullum lands head coaching positions
Brendon McCullum has walked into a high-profile coaching gig just a week after his playing career ended.
McCullum has landed the head coaching job at the Indian Premier League franchise the Kolkata Knight Riders – a side he used to play for.
The former Black Caps skipper will also be the head coach of the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Twenty20 competition.
‘‘It’s a great honour to take on this responsibility,’’ McCullum said.
‘‘The Knight Rider franchises in IPL and CPL have become iconic and have set the standard in franchise cricket. We have fantastic squads in both KKR and TKR and I, along with the support staff, will be looking to build on the success both franchises have enjoyed.’’
McCullum takes over at Kolkata from former South African star allrounder Jacques Kallis.
‘‘Brendon has been an integral part of the Knight Riders family for a long time,’’ KKR’s chief executive Venky Mysore said.
‘‘His leadership qualities, honesty, positive and aggressive style, combined with his natural ability to bring the best out of the teams he has been a part of, makes him ideally suited to lead both KKR and TKR as a head coach.’’
The 37-year-old retired from international cricket with New Zealand in 2016 but continued to feature in T20 leagues around the world, playing in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, as well as the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash, Lahore Qalandars in the PSL and Trinbago in the CPL.
McCullum made a famous 158 not out for Kolkata in the first match of the inaugural IPL season in 2008.