England have appointed Brendon McCullum as the head coach of their men’s white-ball team, adding to his existing role as the Test side’s head coach, which he has held for over two years.
This move marks a departure from the split-coaching model reintroduced by Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, in 2022 after an eight-year break.
McCullum’s contract, now extended until the end of 2027, will see him take charge of the white-ball teams starting in January 2025, beginning with England’s tour of India, followed closely by the ICC Champions Trophy.
In the interim, Marcus Trescothick, the current assistant coach, will step in as the white-ball coach for the upcoming home series against Australia and the tour of the Caribbean later this year.
“I’m thrilled that Brendon has decided to take on both roles,” Key stated.
“We’re fortunate to have a coach of his caliber fully committed to English cricket.
Aligning both teams under one coach is exciting, and we’re ready for the challenges ahead.”
Key emphasized that format clashes have previously created difficulties within the white-ball setup, but from January, McCullum will have the time to devote equal attention to both roles.
The ECB believes this unified approach will bring out the best in the players and coaching team.
McCullum’s appointment follows the recent departure of Matthew Mott, who was let go despite England’s 2022 T20 World Cup win.
Under Mott’s leadership, the team struggled in the ODI World Cup in India, finishing seventh out of 10 teams.
Although England reached the semifinals of this year’s T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, their overall performance fell short of expectations, leading to Mott’s departure.
Reflecting on his new role, McCullum said, “I’ve loved working with the Test team and am excited to now extend that to the white-ball sides.
This challenge is one I’m ready for, and I look forward to building on the strong foundations with Jos Buttler and the team.”
McCullum also expressed his enthusiasm for Key’s vision of a unified coaching structure, especially with the scheduling issues easing next year.
“The talent in English cricket is immense,” he added, “and my aim is to create an environment where we can continue to compete at the highest level across all formats.”
The ECB confirmed that McCullum will take a short break after the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, returning in time for England’s tours of Pakistan and New Zealand later this year.
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