The former New Zealand captain believes he is the right person to lead England forward.
After England’s Ashes defeat in Australia, speculation about Brandon McCullum’s future with the team has begun. Calls to remove him from his role have also surfaced. Yet the former New Zealand captain wants to continue as England’s coach.
Before this Ashes series, England had high hopes and sky-high expectations. McCullum himself called it “the best series of my life.” But once the matches began, those hopes were shattered. England lost the first three Tests in just 11 days.
Amid this ongoing failure, questions have arisen about England’s style of play. Some have even suggested McCullum should be sacked. But the English coach has repeatedly said he won’t be distracted by such talk. After the loss in Adelaide, he reiterated:
“My job here is fantastic. It’s very enjoyable. To travel the world with these boys, try to play some exciting cricket, and try to achieve something… I don’t do things to save my job. My job is to try to get the best out of the boys and to achieve something with them.”
McCullum’s contract with England runs until 2027. He wants to continue in his role but knows the decision is not entirely in his hands. When asked if he will coach the team next summer, he said:
“I don’t know. It’s not up to me, is it? I’ll just keep trying to do my job properly… These questions are for someone else, not for me.”
The former New Zealand batsman took charge in 2022 and, alongside captain Ben Stokes, introduced an aggressive approach to Test cricket for England. This strategy, nicknamed “Bazball” after McCullum’s own nickname “Baz,” initially brought success.
However, England soon faced setbacks. Since 2024, they have lost more Tests (13) than they have won (12). Overall, under McCullum and Stokes, England has played 44 Tests, winning 25 and losing 17.
Before the Ashes, England’s approach was already widely debated. It has now become a point of intense criticism, with many calling for a change. McCullum, however, has consistently said the team should stick to its style. This time, he emphasized the progress England has made under his tenure:
“Other decisions depend on others. From my perspective, I’m enjoying my time with these boys. I think since I took charge, we’ve improved. We’re not fully ready yet, but as a cricket team, we’ve undoubtedly progressed. We’ve established an identity. Now it’s time to show that identity properly in the last two Tests and to gain something from it.”
Although the hope of reclaiming the Ashes has ended, England still has a chance to end a long wait for a Test win in Australia. Since the 2010–11 season, they have not won a Test on Australian soil. Two matches remain in the current series, giving them an opportunity to break an 18-Test winless streak.
The Boxing Day Test starts this Friday in Melbourne, and the final Test begins on January 4 in Sydney.
