Brendon McCullum takes on England Test duties: Kiwi’s coaching record

Brendon McCullum has taken up England’s coaching job after retiring from international cricket in August 2019.

He was tapped as the Test Coach for the England Cricket Team on Thursday.

McCullum, 40, has previously coached two teams. These include Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League and Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.

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Under the mentorship of McCullum, Trinbago Knight Riders became the most successful team in the Caribbean Premier League in 2020. The team won its third title in 2020 after defeating St Lucia Zouks in the final.

The Kolkata Knight Riders have not won the Indian Premier League with McCullum as the coach. The team, however, missed a spot in the playoffs and landed in the fifth spot. Kolkata Knight Riders won seven and lost seven games in 2020.

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Kolkata Knight Riders are in the seventh spot in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League as McCullum’s exit is announced. The head coach reportedly informed the squad about his withdrawal at a recent team meeting.

“He informed us that he won’t be part of KKR going ahead as he will be taking up a job as England cricket team coach. He informed us during a team meeting a few days ago”, a person familiar with McCullum’s exit said, according to reports from Indian Express.

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McCullum is regarded as the catalyst behind New Zealand’s emergence as a major force in the test game — the Black Caps won the inaugural world test championship last year — and his preference for attacking cricket will be welcomed by Stokes at the start of a new era for England.

“I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes — a formidable coach and captain partnership,” said Rob Key, director of men’s cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board. “Time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride.”