Brendon McCullum named England men’s Test coach on four-year deal

Brendon McCullum has been confirmed as the new coach of England’s men’s Test team, having gone into the interview process as an outside bet for the white-ball role and emerged from it as the unanimous choice of the England & Wales Cricket Board’s four-man panel to oversee their planned red-ball reset.

The Test side has won one of its last 17 games and is being overhauled following the dismissal of previous coach Chris Silverwood in January after the team’s abject performances in the Ashes, and the resignation of their captain, Joe Root, after their series defeat in the West Indies in March. Ben Stokes was named as the side’s new captain last month. McCullum has agreed a four-year contract, and will arrive in the UK later in May following the completion of Kolkata Knight Riders’ Indian Premier League campaign. The New Zealander’s first series in charge will be against the Black Caps in June.

“I’d like to say how pleased I am to be given this opportunity to positively contribute to England’s Test cricket set-up and move the team forward into a more successful era,” the 40-year-old said. “In taking this role on, I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present, and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we’ve confronted them head-on. I’ve enjoyed several robust conversations with Rob Key about the direction of travel for the team and have found his enthusiasm contagious. I’m no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can’t wait to get started. Ben Stokes is the perfect character to inspire change around him, and I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us.”

McCullum, who will give up his role