McCullum to leave England Test coach role after poor run
Brendon McCullum is stepping down as England's Test coach following a severe downturn in results and off-field disciplinary problems, forcing the cricket board to find a new leader ahead of a commercially crucial Ashes series.
Brendon McCullum will step down as England's Test head coach, ending a four-year tenure that began with a radical turnaround but recently deteriorated into a prolonged slump. He will remain in his post leading the white-ball teams, a role he assumed in early 2025.
The decision comes after England lost eight of their last 12 Test matches, winning only three. This starkly contrasts with McCullum's initial impact after taking over in spring 2022, when his aggressive 'Bazball' approach delivered 11 wins in his first 13 Tests, reversing a dismal record of one victory in 17 games.
The recent decline has not been limited to the pitch. The team's winter tour of Australia for a 4-1 Ashes defeat, followed by a 2-1 home loss to New Zealand, was accompanied by widely reported disciplinary breaches. These included curfew violations by captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson, and separate late-night drinking incidents involving batter Ben Duckett and white-ball captain Harry Brook.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould stated that "the time is right to make a change" as the board looks ahead to the home Ashes next summer. McCullum said he was "gutted" to be leaving the red-ball side, but added: "I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams."
The transition presents immediate logistical hurdles for the governing body. Gould admitted an interim coach might be required for the Pakistan series starting at Headingley on August 19, as the search for a permanent replacement clashes with international franchise commitments. Potential candidates reportedly include former Australia coach Justin Langer, England Lions coach Andrew Flintoff, and former England head coach Andy Flower.
McCullum's retention in the white-ball role is anchored in recent success. Despite a group-stage exit at the 2025 Champions Trophy, he has just guided England to the top of the T20 international rankings with a 4-0 series win over India. His contract runs through the 50-over World Cup in Africa in late 2027.
