Brendon McCullum is confident he can manage the added workload following his appointment as England’s white-ball coach, admitting the dual role would have been “nigh on impossible” when he took over the Test side two years ago.
On Wednesday, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that McCullum would assume leadership of the national men’s Test and white-ball teams from next year, extending his contract until the end of 2027.
The 42-year-old took charge of the Test side in May 2022, while Australian Matthew Mott was appointed coach of the white-ball teams. However, Mott stepped down from the role in July following England’s T20 World Cup semi-final exit against eventual champions India.
Former Test opener Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim coach of England’s ODI and T20 teams for the upcoming white-ball series against Australia before McCullum takes over next year.
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With the assistance of red-ball captain Ben Stokes, McCullum has successfully reinvigorated England’s Test set-up over the past 24 months through aggressive team strategy and bold selection calls. England hopes the New Zealander can similarly rebuild the white-ball team, a fallen dynasty that has lost possession of both World Cups over the last 12 months.
Over the next three years, McCullum will be tasked with helping England win the Champions Trophy in Pakistan, the 2025/26 Ashes in Australia, the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the 2027 Ashes in England and the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
Speaking to reporters in London on Thursday, McCullum brushed aside concerns about his workload, arguing the less congested schedule has allowed England to support one coach across formats.
“It is going to be an added workload, that’s for sure, but I didn’t take a whole lot of persuading,” McCullum said.
“At times you may be tested, but that’s the exciting part of doing jobs like this. You are put under pressure at times, your methods and visions are challenged, so it’s about remaining firm and getting players to excel.
“Over the last two years, it would have been nigh on impossible for someone to do all three formats, but with the schedule easing enough it gives you the ability to have one person in the role.
“There will be times where we have to be smart with stepping support staff in and out and that will include myself, but I don’t see that as a problem. It will give other coaches a chance to step up in a head coach capacity.
“When I leave in three and a half years, you want the next group of coaches or those you have brought along to be viable head coach candidates.”
Speaking to Fox Cricket following McCullum’s appointment, former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian admitted he was “very surprised” England approved a dual coaching role.
“I thought England would definitely go down the track of having separate coaches, and I’ve been a big advocate for that for ten years,” Julian said.
“I just think the workload is too much for a coach to do all formats, and I’m surprised that they’ve done that.
“No doubt he could perform in that role, but I think you’ve got to make a definite line between Test cricket and one-day cricket. I think you need different selectors, different coaches and a different set-up, because you need to refresh it as well.
“If you’re coaching a team right through 12 months, I think players can get stale of the coach.”
McCullum identified his strong relationship with Stokes and white-ball captain Jos Buttler while discussing his unified role, which Stokes called “an unbelievable move”.
“Stokes was I think a big advocate for him,” Julian continued.
“You’ve got to make sure that your captain and coach mix really well, and I think that’s been probably one aspect that got him the gig.
“We see that now in Australia, where Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald have a really good relationship. That flows through to Mitch Marsh and McDonald as well.”
Earlier this year, Australian cricket great Mark Waugh called for the national men’s side to have a specialist white-ball coach, with Julian supporting the move.
South Africa and Pakistan currently have split coaching roles across formats, with former Australian bowler Jason Gillespie recently taking charge of Pakistan’s Test side.
“We often do that anyway,” Julian said.
“We often have a coach will come in and do a certain tour, and then they’ll drop out, and another coach will take over as well. I think that should happen.
“There’s such a long 12 months now, so much cricket coming on. You need to be refreshed, and I think when you bring in different staff, that does it straight away.”
The third Test between England and Sri Lanka commences at The Oval on Friday at 8pm AEST, while the T20 series between England and Australia gets underway on Thursday.
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