​Brendon McCullum has stepped away from his duties as England’s Test head coach, though he will continue to oversee the national white-ball setup, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Sunday. Under his stewardship, England have endured a challenging run in Test cricket, losing seven of their last nine matches. The downturn featured a dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia during the 2025/26 series and a 2-1 defeat at home to New Zealand last month, with both series marred by allegations surrounding a drinking culture within the team.
“I have absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together,” McCullum said in an ECB statement. “Of course I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision.”
Former England captain Ben Stokes announced his international retirement during what proved to be a heavy defeat in the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge—the last match of McCullum’s red-ball tenure. McCullum’s period in charge began with a strikingly aggressive approach that yielded early success, including 3-0 series wins over New Zealand and Pakistan, where England’s batsmen racked up large totals, such as 500 runs in a single day. A dramatic 2-2 draw in the home Ashes series of 2023 had been a highlight, showcasing his positive, fearless cricketing philosophy.
Yet the momentum faltered in India two years ago, where England’s “one size fits all” style seemed to falter when the team faced stronger resistance and could not simply bash their way out of trouble. The writing appeared to be on the wall for McCullum when England surrendered the Ashes in Australia after just 11 days of cricket. After a promising start to the New Zealand series, off-field issues led to the suspension of Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson from the second Test following a breach of a midnight curfew in a London bar.
With the Test team now in need of a new coach and captain ahead of the forthcoming home series against Pakistan next month, the ECB is tasked with a fresh reset. The organization is seeking leadership that can steer England back toward success in the longer format, as they prepare for what they hope will be a stronger showing in the next Ashes campaign in 2027.
“Brendon breathed new life into England men’s Test cricket during an exciting period that produced remarkable victories, and we are grateful for all he has given to the role,” said ECB chief executive Richard Gould. “We now believe the time is right to make a change for the Test team as we target victory in the Ashes in England next summer (2027).”
Among the remaining members of the former Test leadership trio, only Rob Key remains, the managing director who faced heavy criticism for England’s insufficient preparation ahead of the Ashes. Stokes’s retirement and McCullum’s departure mark the end of an era, though McCullum’s arc as the head of England’s white-ball teams continues. The ECB confirmed that the search for a new Test coach and a new captain is now underway, as England set their sights on rebuilding and reclaiming consistency across red-ball cricket.
In the meantime, Sunday’s timing brought a contrasting success for McCullum’s white-ball teams. Hours after the test news, England’s limited-overs side demolished India by 56 runs in Southampton, sealing a 4-0 series whitewash against the reigning T20 world champions. McCullum, who took charge of England’s white-ball program in 2024, emphasized his renewed focus on those formats. “My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward,” the 44-year-old said, signaling his continued commitment to steering England to continued success in limited-overs cricket.