England Is Hoping Brendon McCullum Can Spark Its Slumbering Test Cricket Team

You know things are dire when even hard-bitten fans of the old enemy were feeling rather bored by it all.

During Australia’s rout of England in the recent Ashes, the result was never in doubt even though the hosts were amid tumult of their own losing captain Tim Paine to a sexting scandal while coach Justin Langer was under siege from his own playing group.

It hardly mattered because the Ashes was one of the most one-sided series imaginable leaving pundits trying to think of creative ways to make the historic rivalry more palatable.

And that wasn’t even rock bottom for England’s stale Test team, who then embarrassingly lost to lowly West Indies in the Caribbean signalling, finally, the end of the Joe Root captaincy era amid sweeping leadership changes in the key posts.

In came Ben Stokes, who was really the only viable candidate, to replace the increasingly jaded Root and also new England and Wales Cricket Board boss Rob Key, the popular broadcaster known for his intellect, wit and for somehow sounding like he’s on the cusp of retirement age to belie his boyish looks.

Key’s latest move, however, could make or break his tenure after the bold coaching appointment of Brendon McCullum, the brutish former New Zealand batter and much revered ex-skipper who helped usher in a golden period for the Kiwis.

“I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes – a formidable coach and captain partnership,” Key said. “Time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride.”

As had been painfully obvious watching a wheezing England for some time, the Test team badly needed an injection. Much like the shot in the arm given to England’s limited-overs teams paving the way for their breakthrough World Cup victory on home soil in 2019.

McCullum, who played 101 Tests, was one of the most aggressive batters of his era, highlighted by hitting the fastest ever century in the format – 54 balls against Australia in 2016.

Alongside Stokes, an innately aggressive player and firebrand, McCullum will be intent on shaking England from their lethargy which afflicted them too often in recent years. They seemingly went through the motions, sleepwalking almost, mired in Root’s conservatism and shackled by predictable game plans and defensive selections.

But it won’t just be about playing an ultra-aggressive brand or mimicking McCullum’s penchant for counterattacking and charging down the pitch at bowlers. Former England coach Trevor Bayliss, who was coach from 2015-19, also sought a positive approach which yielded spectacular results in England’s limited-overs teams but proved manic and inconsistent in the long format.

McCullum will be aiming to strike the right balance, as his New Zealand teams almost perfected during his tenure and beyond. Firstly, even before tactical realignments, McCullum will be striving for a reset within the player group in a bid to freshen things up by going back to basics.

When he took the reins of New Zealand captain early last decade, they were mired in woe before McCullum preached a more inclusive approach and player buy in. He wanted the dressing room to be a sanctuary and players to be collaborators driving the leadership. He was perhaps early on this now commonplace leadership style embraced everywhere from sports teams to households.

Mostly, he was intent on his team having fun again and enjoying themselves like when they were youngsters freed of the suffocating pressures of professional sports. It worked a treat with McCullum’s calm leadership mixed with savvy tactical nous powering New Zealand into the 2015 World Cup final along with being a consistent Test team punching above its weight.

He clearly has gravitas, but his appointment isn’t without risk with the 40-year-old having never coached an international cricket team. McCullum has had plum T20 franchise gigs, including currently coaching Kolkata Knight Riders in the high-profile Indian Premier League, but the grind of international cricket will be far more taxing and a trickier challenge.

Smartly, Key has separated the Test and limited-overs coaching roles making the prospect of burn out for McCullum perhaps less of a worry but considerable expectation will hover in a country that still holds the traditional five-day format above all else.

Coincidentally, his first challenge in charge will be against New Zealand, who are the reigning world Test champions, in a tough three-Test series starting on June 2.

It’s doubtful McCullum can mark his imprint so quickly, but if England’s Test team is at least watchable then that’s a welcome start.