Brendan McCallum, the former captain of New Zealand, has been confirmed by the ECB as England’s new head coach, with a four-year contract.
McCallum, who will step down as Kolkata Knight Riders head coach at the end of the current IPL, played 101 tests for New Zealand between 2004 and 2016, scoring 6,453 runs at 38.64 with a high score of 302. against India in 2014, which remains the only triple century made by a New Zealander.
Although he has never led a Red Ball team in his coaching career, McCallum has captained New Zealand for 31 tests from 2013 until his retirement, earning applause for a positive approach that was also important to the team’s success. white balls. the 2015 World Cup final. In 2020, he also coached Trinbago Knight Riders for the Caribbean Premier League title.
His exact date of arrival in the UK depends on KKR’s qualification for the IPL playoffs, although with two remaining matches in the group stage – the last of which is against Lucknow Super Giants on May 18, they are an external bet to reach the final four. .
If you allow him to work, he is expected to contact the team – which will be led by newly appointed England captain Ben Stokes – before the first test against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting on June 2, and will now contribute to next week’s meeting. choice too.
Rob Kee, the men’s cricket director for England, acknowledged that McCallum’s appointment was a gamble, adding that it was “all time to lock up and prepare for the trip”, but praised his proven ability to change the team’s culture. -good – an attribute that is desperately needed after the gloomy 12 months for the England team, in which they won one of their last 17 tests and sank to their lowest ICC rankings since 1995.
“I would like to say how pleased I am to have been given this opportunity to contribute positively to the preparation of the English cricket test and to move the team forward to a more successful era,” McCallum said in a statement from the ECB.
“In taking on this role, I am well aware of the significant challenges that the team is currently facing, and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we face them.
“I enjoyed a few steady conversations with Rob Key about the team’s direction of travel and found that his enthusiasm was contagious. It is not foreign to me to make a change in the team environment and I can’t wait to get started.
“Ben Stokes is the perfect hero to inspire change around me, and I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us.”
McCallum was originally coached for England, not least because of his close personal and professional relationship with captain Eoin Morgan – he was the master of ceremonies at Morgan’s wedding in 2018, and last year the couple led KKR to the IPL final.
However, after it became clear that he was interested in the test work, McCallum emerged as the unanimous election of the ECB’s selection committee, which included Key, CEO Tom Harrison, presentation director Mo Bobat and Andrew Strauss, who is strategically adviser to the board who resigned from his temporary role as a doctor following the appointment of Ki.
In particular, his vision for the test team was in line with that of new captain Stokes, who last week called on “selfless” cricketers to help revive the team’s fate after being revealed as Joe’s successor. Ruth, who retired last month after a record 64 tests.
“We are happy to confirm Brandon as the head coach of England’s Men’s Test,” said Key. “It was a real privilege for me to get to know him and understand his views and vision for the game. I believe that his appointment will be good for the English test team.
“He has a recent history of changing the culture and environment of cricket for the better and I believe he is the man who can do that for English red ball cricket.
“We were incredibly lucky to have a seriously strong list of quality candidates for the post, with Brandon demonstrating that it is our number one choice.
“I would like to thank Tom Harrison and the ECB Board for their support in this process. I believe in Brendan and Ben Stokes – a great partnership between coach and captain. It’s time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the trip.
Venki Mysore, chief executive of the Knight Riders franchise, joked that the ECB is taking on all of KKR’s successful coaches after earlier seeing Trevor Baileys move into the role of head coach of the IPL. Mysore, who appointed McCallum as head coach in the two Knight Riders franchises in the IPL and CPL, said the former New Zealand captain’s greatest strength is transparency and positivity.
“In the first place, he is a good human being. It starts with that, “Mysore said. “The role of a national coach is a little different because you have a lot more time to work with someone all year round. But it starts with being a good person and then being able to connect with people and build relationships. When you do this and gain their trust, when people are open to listening to you.
“Basically, you have to be a reliable person that people like. It takes time. Then they are open to listening to what you say. This is the key. It seems simple, but it’s so hard to get. Ultimately, you need to have that basic ability, which is to be able to be transparent, honest, and build those relationships. And this is his strength. He always has a very positive mood for him. “
England’s white ball team is out of action until their three-match ODI match against the Netherlands, which starts on June 17, and therefore has less urgency to fill the second of the vacancies for England coach.
Candidates for the role include Gary Kirsten – who was among the hosts for the test – along with Australian women’s coach Matthew Mott and Paul Collingwood, who served as interim coaches for both the Reds and Whites on England’s recent Caribbean tour. .
Andrew Miller is the British editor of ESPNcricinfo. @miller_cricket
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