Brendon McCullum will leave his role as England’s Test head coach but continue to lead the white-ball teams.
McCullum took over the red-ball side in the spring of 2022 and brought about an immediate uplift in form with his ‘Bazball’ style, winning 11 of his first 13 Tests in charge after England had secured only one victory in 17 games prior to his appointment.
However, England have lost eight of their last 12 Tests under the 44-year-old – and won only three – following the recent 2-1 home series loss to New Zealand, which followed a 4-1 Ashes hammering over the winter on a tour littered with errors on and off the field.
Rob Key is set to stay on in his role as England managing director of men’s cricket
McCullum says he is “gutted” to be leaving as Test boss, with ECB chief executive Richard Gould saying “the time is right to make a change” as England build towards the home Ashes next summer.
England managing director Rob Key – who appointed McCullum four years ago – is set to stay on in his job.
McCullum: ‘Privilege’ to coach England Test team
McCullum became white-ball coach in early 2025 and although his first major tournament was a failure – a group-stage exit at that spring’s Champions Trophy – he has just led England to the top of the T20 international rankings with a 4-0 demolition of India.
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Highlights from the fifth T20 international between England and India in Southampton as the hosts romped to a 4-0 series win.
England reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup earlier this year before a narrow seven-run defeat to eventual champions India, with McCullum also contracted until the end of the next 50-over World Cup in Africa in late 2027.
It is all change for the Test team with England not only needing to find a replacement for McCullum as coach but also for Ben Stokes as captain, after the latter called time on his international career following the defeat to New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
McCullum said: “I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. There’ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that’s all part of taking on a challenge like this.
“It’s been a privilege and an honour, and I’m grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.
“Of course I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward.
McCullum will continue to lead England in white-ball cricket
“I wish the Test team nothing but success. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room and they’re a special bunch of lads.
“I’ll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they’ll continue to make people proud.”
Bazball starts with a bang but then fizzles out
England’s achievements in the Bazball era included a 3-0 sweep at home to New Zealand to kick off the McCullum-Stokes alliance and then the same result in Pakistan in late 2022, during which they scored 500 on day one of the Rawalpindi Test.
However, England were unable to win any of the four marquee five-Test series they played against India or Australia – drawing with those heavyweights at home and being drubbed away – with their overaggressive batting costing them on many occasions.
Drinking issues have also blighted the side with white-ball captain Harry Brook – the front-runner to replace Stokes in the Test role, perhaps even more so now after helming the 4-0 T20 thrashing of India – hit by a bouncer outside a nightclub in New Zealand last October, the evening before England played a one-day international.
England white-ball captain Harry Brook was involved on one od the winter drinking incident that plagued England
During The Ashes, a video seemingly showing batter Ben Duckett drunk during a beach break in Noosa emerged, while Stokes and seam bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval last month after breaking a midnight curfew that had been installed after the raft of incidents over the winter.
Stokes and Atkinson were cleared of any misconduct after a situation in a nightclub which saw a member of ECB security personnel require stiches after being struck by a punch aimed at Atkinson from a Saracens academy rugby player.
Key: McCullum leaves Test side poised to achieve great things
On McCullum’s departure as Test coach, Key said: “Some of England’s most memorable moments in recent history have occurred under Brendon’s leadership of the Test team.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to watch him shape the mentality of the team, to one the players have loved, and see him develop a new generation of talent who will be at the heart of England men’s teams for years to come.
“He leaves the Test team well-set and poised to achieve great things.”
McCullum’s England begin an ODI series against India at Edgbaston on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Cricket
Gould added: “Brendon breathed new life into England men’s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories, and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role.
“We now believe that the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in The Ashes next summer.”
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