McCullum sacked as coach of England's Test team, to remain in white-ball role

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a] have lost seven of their last nine Tests under the former [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a] captain.[/p][p]This includes a woeful 4-1 Ashes defeat in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]Australia[/a] in 2025/26 and last month's 2-1 loss at home to New Zealand, with both series overshadowed by allegations of a team drinking culture.[/p][p][b]"I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together," [/b]said [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccullum-brendon/0KJ3u1y4/"]McCullum[/a] in an ECB statement, adding:[/p][p][b]"Of course I'm gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision."[/b][/p][p]Former England captain Ben Stokes announced his international retirement midway through what turned out to be a crushing defeat in the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge - the final match of McCullum's red-ball reign.[/p][embed guid="d00dcf7f-8f0f-4c0a-8349-0ff0a808f058" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2076294261335536026" social-type="twitter" /][p]His time as Test boss started in remarkable fashion, with especially aggressive batting in particular as Stokes led England to 3-0 series wins over New Zealand and in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/pakistan/tS3K91g9/"]Pakistan[/a], where 500 runs were scored in one day, before a thrilling 2-2 home Ashes in 2023.[/p][p]But a crushing 4-1 loss in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/india/fcOzl2uI/"]India[/a] two years ago exposed the limits of England's 'one size fits all approach' when they could not simply smash their way out of trouble.[/p][p][b]And the writing was on the wall for McCullum when England lost the Ashes series in Australia in just 11 days' cricket.[/b][/p][p]After a winning start to the New Zealand series, fresh off-field problems saw Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson omitted from the second Test after breaking a midnight team curfew in a London bar.[/p][p]England are now looking for a new Test coach and captain ahead of next month's series at home to Pakistan.[/p][p][b]"Brendon breathed new life into England men's Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role," [/b]said ECB chief executive Richard Gould.[/p][p][b]"We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in the Ashes (in England) next summer (2027).[/b][/p][embed guid="87bf25a0-8f2e-429e-8482-75dc06418961" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2076290484511907936" social-type="twitter" /][p]Only England managing director Rob Key, heavily criticised for England's lack of preparation ahead of the Ashes, now remains from a Test leadership trio that once included Stokes and McCullum.[/p][p]But the ex-England batsman said McCullum, who won 25 of his 44 Tests in charge, had left the red-ball team [b]"well-set and poised to achieve great things."[/b][/p][h2]Flower among those linked with role[/h2][p]Former England captain Nasser Hussain praised McCullum's initial impact upon the Test side, but said now was the right time for him to leave the red-ball role.[/p][p][b]"In recent times, with the Ashes and losing seven of their last nine Test matches, and the manner of those defeats, I think it is about the right time,"[/b] Hussain told Sky Sports.[/p][p]Sunday's announcement came the day after England's white-ball side thrashed India by 56 runs in Southampton to complete a 4-0 series sweep of the T20 world champions under McCullum.[/p][p][b]"My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward,"[/b] said McCullum, 44, who took on the role of England limited-overs coach in 2024.[/p][p]There have long been calls for Andy Flower to have a second stint as England coach.[/p][embed guid="0ef20e9e-0716-41ca-9329-dc71cb7245eb" url="https://x.com/SkyCricket/status/2076302680939532496" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Zimbabwe cricket great was in charge from 2009-2014 and oversaw three successful Ashes campaigns, including their last away success in 2010/11.[/p][p][b]"Flower took England to number one in the world, pushed his team hard, some say at times too hard, but I loved Flower's coaching ability,"[/b] Hussain said.[/p][p][b]"Everything (was) meticulous...and that is what has been lacking in this England Test match side - the meticulous nature of what is needed behind the scenes."[/b][/p][p]Michael Vaughan, England's 2005 Ashes-winning skipper, said wholesale change was required in the Test set-up.[/p][p]"Enough is enough," he told the Stick to Cricket podcast. [b]"There is no way in a million years that this management group is maximising… and I hate using the word talent now because talent only takes you so far, and we keep saying there are a talented group of players - well, they keep losing."[/b][/p]