End of Bazball! McCullum sacked as England Test coach

Brendon McCullum has been sacked as Test coach in another staggering twist in the unravelling of the England team.

Two weeks after Ben Stokes made the stunning announcement to step down as captain and retire from international cricket, McCullum’s exit brings a definitive end to the Bazball era.

The New Zealander will continue as England’s white-ball coach, but he leaves the Test team following a string of poor results and several off-field incidents.

Director of cricket Rob Key will remain in position, with the decision to remove McCullum coming after the hierarchy of the England and Wales Cricket Board spent time reflecting on the situation surrounding the men’s team.

“I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together,” said McCullum. “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.

“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.”

England have lost seven of their past nine Tests, including the 4-1 Ashes hammering in Australia.

McCullum, Stokes and Key were backed to remain in charge following that defeat, only for England to be beaten 2-1 by New Zealand.

The defeat by the Black Caps – England’s first in a home series of at least three Tests for 14 years – was overshadowed by a nightclub incident involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson, then Stokes’ abrupt retirement.

Now, the England Test team has no head coach and no captain, with the next series against Pakistan beginning on August 19.

Harry Brook appears favourite to be named as Test captain, though that appointment could now hinge on the identity of the next head coach.

Since 1999, England have had only two English head coaches of the Test team. Peter Moores did the job twice, while Chris Silverwood was McCullum’s predecessor.

Zimbabwean Andy Flower, who was in charge when England won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11, would be the standout candidate to replace McCullum, though it is not known if he could be lured from the franchise world.

Homegrown candidates might include Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson, or his fellow former England spinner Gareth Batty, now in charge at Surrey. Legendary former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is head coach of England Lions but has previously said he does not want the job with the senior team.

Australian Ryan Campbell has impressed at Durham, while ex-Australia coach Darren Lehmann is now head coach at Northants.

In remaining as white-ball coach, McCullum can continue to build on the improvements made by England’s limited-overs team. The victory over India on Saturday gave England a 4-0 T20 series win over the world champions and put them at number one in the world rankings.

McCullum combined the Test and white-ball roles in 2024, two years after he first took charge of the Test team. When he arrived as Test coach in 2022, he initially embarked on a spell of superb results earned with some breathtaking cricket.

The partnership with Stokes – the Bazball style – revitalised an England team who had won only one of their previous 17 Tests.

With some swashbuckling batting, England earned famous wins over New Zealand at Trent Bridge, India at Edgbaston and Pakistan in Rawalpindi, the latter the beginning of a 3-0 series win. Overall, England won 10 of their first 11 Tests under McCullum and Stokes.

However, since that initial period of success, England have lost 19 and won 17 of 38 Tests, beginning with a heart-stopping one-run defeat by New Zealand in Wellington, sustained after England enforced the follow-on. (BBC)