Former England captain Nasser Hussain says the “timing is right” for Brendon McCullum to focus on white-ball cricket after the Kiwi was removed from his role overseeing the Test team on Sunday.
McCullum paid the price for an Ashes demolition Down Under being followed by a humbling home series defeat to New Zealand in the Test-match format.
But he will continue to lead the white-ball teams for England, having just steered them to a resounding 4-0 T20I series win over India, who slumped to a 56-run defeat in Southampton on Saturday.
Brutal T20 display
Jos Buttler dazzled with a stunning 131 off 64 balls, while captain Harry Brook bludgeoned 95 not out off 45 balls as England racked up a mammoth 257 for three.
Sunday then saw the news break that McCullum would no longer lead England in all formats, and Sky Sports pundit Hussain feels it’s the right decision for him to hand over the Test reins.
McCullum took charge of the Test team in 2022 and formed an exciting, aggressive brand of cricket widely known as ‘Bazball’ alongside skipper Ben Stokes.
England won 11 of McCullum’s first 13 matches in charge – but a poor run of eight losses in the last 12 Tests brought an end to the ‘Bazball’ era, which has also seen Stokes retire from international cricket, with Brook a leading contender to replace him as Test skipper.
Meticulous approach needed
Hussain has called for more “attention to detail“ in the Test-match coaching set-up, which will still be overseen by Rob Key as managing director of the men’s team.
He told Sky Sports: “If you’re going to keep Key – whose attention to detail is not his strongest suit – then below, you need to have someone that is absolutely across everything and doesn’t miss a trick.
“For me, the best person for that would be Andy Flower by a country mile.
“Flower took England to number one in the world.
“I love Flower’s approach to coaching – he was meticulous in everything that he did.
“That’s what’s been lacking in this England Test-match side. I would do anything if I was Rob Key and the ECB to go and get Andy Flower.“
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Top contenders earmarked
Flower is currently in charge of IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Justin Langer and Jonathan Trott are also in the running for the Test role.
ECB CEO Richard Gould said on Sky Sports: “We haven’t had any contact with any individuals before we’ve had conversation with Brendon McCullum.
“Rob Key will now be taking those conversations forward.
“There could be interim but we’ll go through the options. We have got a shortlist of candidates that represent global talent.
“Ideally, we’ll have someone in place for the Pakistan Test [in August], but that also clashes with other franchise tournaments and international fixtures around the world.
“Therefore, if we need to take a little bit longer to get the person we want, we’ll take that time.“
McCullum incredibly proud
McCullum admits he is ‘gutted’ to lose his role with the Test-match team but proud of what he has achieved alongside Stokes over the last four years.
The former New Zealand batter and wicketkeeper told Sky Sports: “I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together.
“There’ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that’s all part of taking on a challenge like this.
“It’s been a privilege and an honour, and I’m grateful – grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.
“Of course, I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision.
“My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward.
“I wish the Test team nothing but success. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room and they’re a special bunch of lads.
“I’ll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they’ll continue to make people proud.“
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Joy to watch
Hussain lauded McCullum for the impact he had on transforming the Test team.
He stated: “From where England were before him and Stokes, I think it would be wrong not to mention the way they played at the start. They were an absolute joy to watch.
“In the end, it’s been a run of seven losses in the last nine Test matches, and with the manner of those defeats, I think it was about the right time.
“I don’t think it was the right thing to do for Rob Key to give both the white-ball and the Test jobs to the same person.
“I think it’s the right thing now for McCullum to focus on white-ball cricket.
“They won at Southampton [on Saturday], they are the number one T20 ranked team in the world – I think his coaching style is suited for white-ball cricket.
“I do think the timing is right.“
England face India in three one-day internationals next and then have a three-match Test series with Pakistan, which begins at Headingley on August 19.
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