McCullum on Test mission

Brendon McCullum has admitted he had no interest in the ‘cushy’ white-ball coaching role — and says england can help the Test format’s global standing by playing an entertaining brand of cricket. McCullum, who was unveiled on Thursday as england’s new Test coach, had previously been touted for the one-day and T20 position, but said the success of his close friend eoin Morgan’s limited-overs teams would have left him with little to do. And despite carving out a lucrative white-ball coaching career for himself in the Indian Premier League, he insisted: ‘Test cricket is my real love. I looked at the two roles and the white-ball didn’t interest me as such, because the team are flying. They’re one of the best teams in the world. ‘eoin Morgan is a very good friend of mine and has built a structure and a system that will continue well after he finishes playing. ‘So I wasn’t really interested in a cushy kind of gig. For me, if you’re going to change your life for something, it’s got to be something a bit grunty, a bit meaty. ‘The challenge of trying to bring a team which is at rock bottom out of that situation and to build something long-term, sustainable and successful — that’s where the challenge lay. ‘For me, Test cricket is on a downward trend in terms of its popularity. If anyone is going to be able to reinvigorate it and get it popular again, then it’s going to be england.’ The Test side’s first assignment under McCullum will be against

his native new Zealand at Lord’s, starting on June 2. ‘That’s going to be a little interesting,’ he said, ‘but at the same time there’s something cool about it, too.’