Brendon McCullum took over England’s Test team in 2022 and the white-ball sides in 2024
England head coach Brendon McCullum has voiced his concerns regarding “misconceptions” surrounding the team and their perceived style of play, deeming them “disrespectful.”
McCullum’s tenure as England’s Test coach began in 2022, partnering with captain Ben Stokes to revitalize a team that had previously secured only one victory in 17 matches.
Since then, the team has garnered attention for its bold and aggressive approach to cricket, particularly with their batting. However, McCullum, who is not fond of the term “Bazball” used to describe this approach, expresses frustration with the team’s overall perception.
“We never have that kind of mindset about ourselves in the sense that, we’re not rigid in how we go about things,” McCullum stated on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.
“I think there’s a bit of a misconception about how we play, that we swing the bat as hard as we can, we try to take wickets and then we go for a round of golf and a few beers.
“I find it slightly disrespectful to all of you guys [the players] and all of the people in the set-up who work so hard and have such clear determination of wanting to succeed, to have that so simply categorised, almost.”
Prior to the summer season, McCullum urged his players to demonstrate greater “humility” following comments that suggested a lack of concern for winning. show more “humility”
Notable instances include Ben Duckett’s assertion that England’s 3-0 loss to India was inconsequential as long as they won the Champions Trophy, and Harry Brook’s remark last September that “if you get caught somewhere on the boundary, then who cares?” when questioned about the team’s one-day batting strategy.
McCullum clarified that his emphasis has consistently been on players’ mindset rather than imposing a specific playing style or prioritizing high scores.
“For us, it’s about trying to create an environment that allows you to handle the pressures of international cricket, to understand the size of that task but to not be restricted in your ability to play,” McCullum added.
“You want your talent to come out, I hate seeing talent stymied, so having a certain style or belief in how we want to play gives us the best chance of success.
“You can’t do that if you are bound by this tension and negativity. I know they want to win, I know I want to win, I know the opposition wants to win.
“Just because I keep saying it doesn’t mean it’s just going to happen, so how do we go about that?”
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The year 2025 is pivotal for McCullum and Stokes’ team, commencing with an enthralling drawn series against India before the Ashes series commences in Perth on November 21.
However, the white-ball team, which McCullum took charge of last year, has faced challenges this year.
They suffered a resounding defeat against India on foreign soil before being eliminated from the Champions Trophy. While Harry Brook spearheaded a clean sweep against the West Indies in his inaugural series as captain, they recently lost the one-day international series 2-1 against South Africa.
McCullum noted that upon his appointment in 2022, he believed he was not the ideal fit for the white-ball role, as they required someone to elevate them “from good to great.” He now faces a similar rebuilding task as he did with the Test side.
“I felt like what you guys needed at that time, my skills were kind of suited to that [Test cricket] – giving guys confidence and encouragement to push the boundaries of their games,” McCullum said.
“I looked at where the white-ball side was at and I was thinking, that’s not really my skill, I’m about giving a team soul and purpose and freedom, and pushing them towards bravery on the field.
“So I felt the Test team was more aligned to that, at the time.”
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