Picture Credit: Twitter
Former New Zealand captain and current Kolkata Knight Riders coach Brendon McCullum was recently announced as the coach of the England Test team. His stint with the Three Lions will kick off next month against New Zealand. Similarly, reports have surfaced about McCullum’s contract that spans over four years.
As reported by Telegraph.co.uk, the former Kiwi captain has signed a £2million, which converts to Rs 18.88 crore approx, deal with the board. McCullum will be specifically assigned to the Test team and hence England will select a separate coach for the limited-overs format.
He has a recent history of changing cricket culture and environments: Key
Addressing the new signing, Managing Director of England's Men's Cricket Rob Key expressed his elation with McCullum’s appointment. He said, “We are delighted to confirm Brendon as England Men's Test Head Coach. It has been a real privilege to get to know him and understand his views and vision for the game. I believe his appointment will be good for England's Test team.”
"He has a recent history of changing cricket culture and environments for the better, and I believe he is the person to do that for England's red-ball cricket. We were incredibly fortunate to have a seriously strong list of quality candidates for the post, with Brendon demonstrating he was our number one choice,” he continued.
"I'd like to thank Tom Harrison and the ECB Board for their support in this process. I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes - a formidable coach and captain partnership. Time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride."
I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force: McCullum
Brendon McCullum also talked about his new role and expressed excitement about the challenges of the job. He said, “I'd like to say how pleased I am to be given this opportunity to positively contribute to England's Test cricket set-up and move the team forward into a more successful era. I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present, and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we've confronted them head-on.”
“I've enjoyed several robust conversations with Rob Key about the direction of travel for the team and have found his enthusiasm contagious. I'm no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can't wait to get started. Ben Stokes is the perfect character to inspire change around him, and I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us.”