Chance to help team at ‘rock bottom’ swayed McCullum
LONDON: Brendon McCullum says he accepted the role as the England test side’s new head coach because of the opportunity to help a team at ‘‘rock bottom’’.
The former New Zealand captain will leave his job in charge of Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to take over a redball side that has fallen to bottom place in the World Test Championship after a dire run of one win in 17 matches.
‘‘If you are prepared to change your life it has got to be something a bit grunty, a little bit meaty,’’ McCullum said on his SENZ radio show.
‘‘And the challenge of bringing a team that is rock bottom at the moment and building something longterm, sustainable and successful . . . that is more where the challenge lay.’’
Leading the revival is a sizeable task for the 40yearold, who has never coached at firstclass or test level, but is renowned as one of the sport’s most progressive thinkers and dynamic leaders.
McCullum, who won 101 test caps and retired from international cricket in 2016, was initially approached to be England’s whiteball coach but said he did not want a ‘‘cushy gig’’.
‘‘The whiteball didn’t interest me as such because the team is flying — they are one of the best in the world and obviously world champions as well.
‘‘They have Eoin Morgan in there who is a very good friend of mine who has built a structure and system that will continue well after he finishes playing as well.
‘‘I wasn’t interested in a cushy gig, plus I love test cricket and the opportunity to coach England and spend a lot of time around those grounds and traditions and history of the game, it became so appealing.’’
As skipper, McCullum set New Zealand on the path to its current golden era, and he won over the England and Wales Cricket Board’s selection panel with his passionate approach.
He saw off a strong field to earn what is understood to be a fouryear contract, edging the likes of Gary Kirsten, whose credentials with South Africa and India had once made him favourite to land the job.
Former England captain Mike Atherton said the move was a ‘‘bold choice’’.
‘‘To give Brendon McCullum the test job — a week or so ago, I don’t think that was on anybody’s radar, so he has not made the obvious choice here, but I think it’s a very bold choice actually,’’ Atherton said on Sky Sports News.
‘‘He is a nice fit with [new captain Ben] Stokes.’’ — PA