England completed a 3-0 whitewash against the West Indies in the recently concluded Test series at home which left head coach Brendon McCullum satisfied with the team’s growth. This series marked a significant turnaround for the Three Lions following their 1-4 defeat in India earlier this year.
After the disappointing performance in India, Brendon McCullum had promised to refine the Bazball style of play. The series against West Indies provided the perfect opportunity to showcase this evolution, demonstrating that England’s batters have made some changes in their Test game. Brendon McCullum expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress.
England under Brendon McCullum in tests
It might have been against an inexperienced West Indies. But Brendon McCullum believes England showed a “harder” side to themselves during their 3-0 victory series win, vindicating personnel changes made to improve the team with a view to the 2025-26 Ashes. Sunday’s devastating finale at Edgbaston confirmed England’s sweep, repeating the scoreline of their last series win at the end of 2022 in Pakistan. It meant this three-match series only occupied 10 days, adding to the sense it was a wholly one-sided affair.
But West Indies had the hosts under pressure at various points after going 1-0 down at Lord’s. They established a first-innings lead in Nottingham, before having England 8 for 1 at the start of the second innings. In Birmingham, Jayden Seales and Alzarri Joseph ran roughshod over the top order, reducing them to 54 for 5 in response to West Indies’ opening effort of 282.
That they were not able to cash in on those moments spoke of England’s fortitude, in McCullum’s eyes. Upon returning from a 4-1 defeat in India, a first series defeat under his tenure but a third successive multi-match series without success, the Test head coach put an onus on “refinement”, particularly when behind the game. The early signs of that development are promising.
There are just over three weeks before the next Test engagement against Sri Lanka starting at Emirates Old Trafford on August 21. A handful of players will rest during that period while others, including Stokes, will turn out for their respective Hundred teams. Brendon McCullum, who will remain in the UK instead of returning to New Zealand, took the time to issue public support to England’s limited-overs coach Matthew Mott.
The Australian has come under fire after two unsuccessful World Cup campaigns in both white-ball formats over the last nine months, and met with men’s managing director Rob Key on Sunday as part of an ongoing review into the set-up. Reports suggest Matthew Mott is set to be let go, with Jos Buttler to stay on as captain.
However Former England skipper Nasser Hussain seems not in favor of Brendon McCullum becoming the white ball coach for Team England under Jos Buttler taking over Matthew Mott.
Nasser Hussain not in favor of Brendon McCullum succeeding as England’s white-ball coach post 2024 WC debacle
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain stated that he is not in favor of Brendon McCullum taking charge of the white-ball sides too as coach aside from the Test team. The 56-year-old reflected that Rahul Dravid did the all-format role well for almost four years, but believes McCullum might not want that.
Having been appointed in May 2022, Matthew Mott stepped down as the coach of England’s white-ball sides effective immediately on Tuesday, July 30. The board has appointed Marcus Trescothick in the interim role and declared the need for a full-time candidate.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Hussain reflected on the situation and stated:
“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. It has worked for other nations… for India, Rahul Dravid did it very well, but I don’t think McCullum or others would want it [both jobs]. Coaches are quite happy having some time to themselves, and have the ability to do some work in the IPL maybe – though whether an England coach could do that at the same time, I don’t know?”
Matthew Mott had started his tenure on a promising note by scripting England’s 2nd T20 World Cup victory in November 2022. However, the failure to defend their 50-over and T20 World Cup crown put the 50-year-old’s position under scrutiny.
Nasser Hussain suggests becoming a coach are judged by results.
Reflecting on Mott’s tenure, the cricketer-turned-commentator opined that his departure wasn’t completely unexpected. The 96-Test veteran especially pointed out how poor planning plotted England’s downfall in the 2023 World Cup. Nasser Hussain said:
“My first reaction is it’s a bit of a shame, but not unexpected. Ultimately you’re judged by results. Results started very well, on the back of continuing the Eoin Morgan/Trevor Bayliss era… they had that immediate success, winning the T20 World Cup in 2022.”
“But since then, it’s gone completely in the other direction. The 50-over World Cup [in 2023] was a poor, poor performance, it really was. They were so far off the mark, in terms of results and decision-making.”
The Englishmen, captained by Jos Buttler, managed only four wins in the 2023 World Cup and failed to qualify for the semi-finals.