ESPNcricinfo
Brendon McCullum, the former New Zealand captain, has been confirmed by the ECB as England Men’s new Test head coach, on a four-year deal.
McCullum, who will step down from his role as Kolkata Knight Riders’ head coach at the end of the ongoing IPL, played 101 Tests for New Zealand between 2004 and 2016, scoring 6453 runs at 38.64 with the highest score of 302 against India in 2014, which remains the only triple-century made by a New Zealander.
Although he has never before taken charge of a red-ball team in his coaching career, McCullum was New Zealand captain for 31 Tests from 2013 until his retirement, earning plaudits for a positive approach which was also instrumental in the white-ball team’s run to the World Cup final in 2015. In 2020, he also coached Trinbago Knight Riders to the Caribbean Premier League title.
His exact arrival date in the UK is dependent on KKR’s qualification for the IPL play-offs, although, with two group-stage games remaining – the last of which comes against Lucknow Super Giants on May 18, they are an outside bet to reach the competition’s final four.
Work permits permitting, he is expected to link up with the squad – which will be led by England’s newly-appointed captain Ben Stokes – ahead of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting June 2, and will now have an input in next week’s selection meeting too.
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