New Zealand legend Brendon McCullum has emerged as the favourite to become England’s next Test coach, according to local reports.
England is expected to finally announce a successor to Chris Silverwood this week, and 40-year-old McCullum is said to be at the front of the list for the Test role, while a separate white ball coach will be recruited.
It was initially believed that McCullum would throw his hat in the ring for the white ball job given his experience coaching in T20 cricket, but there is now a growing belief he will partner new captain Ben Stokes in leading the Test team.
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Should McCullum land the role, his first assignment would be a June series against the Black Caps, who he represented 432 times between 2002 and 2016 and is credited with changing the team’s culture.
McCullum is known for his aggressive approach and, given Stokes is cut from a similar cloth, the pair could transform the outlook for an underperforming English side.
There will be questions over his appointment, however, and concerns over England’s own coaching stocks should director Rob Key look abroad.
McCullum has never coached a first class match, but played 101 Tests and, as captain, led New Zealand to seven consecutive undefeated Test series.