Brendon McCullum wants England to begin 'successful era' after being appointed new Test head coach 

New Zealand legend Brendon McCullum was on Thursday appointed as the new Test head coach of England, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced. McCullum will join the England squad later this month as he is currently overlooking the proceedings for the Kolkata Knight Riders as their coach in the IPL 2022. The two-time IPL champions have two matches left in their IPL group campaign on Saturday against Sunrisers Hyderabad and will complete their season on May 18 against Lucknow Super Giants.

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Brendon McCullum beats Gary Kirsten to take England Test coach job

The development comes after former India head coach Gary Kirsten was touted as the favourite for the red-ball coaching position while McCullum was discussed to take up the role for white-ball cricket due to his experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Kolkata Knight Riders’ head coach.However, the ex-fierce opener, had also represented his national team in the longest format of the game for 101 times and his prowess could not be ignored. McCullum, moreover, shares a good rapport with England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan and has a strong influence on new managing director Rob Key too.

Brendon McCullum wants to turn England into ‘more successful’ side

McCullum will take up the coaching role for an international side for the first-time and he has opened up on his agenda with the squad. He is pleased with the appointment and wants England to begin a more successful era under his and new captain Ben Stokes’ reign. It should also be noted that the Kiwi shares a good rapport with new managing director Rob Key. 

“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,” McCullum said in an official statement. “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. 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.”