“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, “said Rob Key, director of the English team.
McCallum has resigned as Kolkata Knight Riders coach and will join England as soon as the franchise’s IPL season is over, which could happen by the middle of next week if they do not reach the playoffs.
He played 101 tests for New Zealand, becoming the first kiwi to score a triple-century test. He ended his career by scoring the fastest penny in his last game. He revolutionized their approach to one-day cricket, leading them to the 2015 World Cup final with an aggressive style copied by Eoin Morgan.
McCallum is facing England after five consecutive defeats in the series and only one victory in 17 tests. He was initially approached for the vacancy with white balls, but revealed on Thursday night that he had turned it down because the challenge of lifting England’s test team from the “stone bottom” was more attractive.
“The white ball [job] I didn’t care, because the team is flying, one of the best teams in the world, and obviously world champions after winning the 2019 World Cup, “he told New Zealand Radio.
“I really wasn’t interested in a light concert. If you are ready to change your life for something, it must be something that is a little dirty and a little meaty, the challenge is to try to put together a team that is at the bottom right now. ”
McCallum has already told some home truths to his boss. “I enjoyed several serious conversations with Rob Key about the team’s direction of travel and found that his enthusiasm was contagious,” he said earlier. “It’s not alien to me to make a change in the team environment and I can’t wait to get started.”
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