​Brendon McCullum has stepped away from his role as England’s Test head coach but will continue to oversee the national white-ball teams, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Sunday. Under the former New Zealand captain, England have claimed just seven wins in their last nine Test matches. This stretch includes a dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia during 2025/26 and a 2-1 home loss to New Zealand last month, with both series clouded by allegations surrounding a drinking culture within the squad.
In an ECB statement, McCullum expressed, “I’ve absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together. Of course I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision.” The timing follows the international retirement announcement of former England captain Ben Stokes midway through what proved to be a crushing defeat in the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, which ended McCullum’s red-ball tenure.
McCullum’s tenure began with an exhilarating upheaval in approach, notably on the batting front, as Stokes helped England secure 3-0 series wins over New Zealand and Pakistan, the latter featuring 500 runs in a single day, before a dramatic 2-2 Ashes series at home in 2023. Yet a heavy 4-1 defeat in India two years earlier highlighted the limitations of England’s “one size fits all” mindset when they couldn’t simply blast their way out of trouble. The writing appeared to be on the wall for McCullum when England lost the Ashes in Australia in a brief 11 days of cricket.
After a winning start to the New Zealand series, off-field issues emerged, with Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson omitted from the second Test due to breaking a team curfew in a London bar. England are now seeking a new Test coach and captain ahead of the upcoming home series against Pakistan next month.
Richard Gould, the ECB chief executive, paid tribute to McCullum, saying, “Brendon breathed new life into England men’s Test team during an exciting period which saw some amazing victories and we’re grateful for all he has given to the role. 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).”
From the leadership group that once included Stokes and McCullum, only England managing director Rob Key remains. James Citing the former star batsman, who won 25 of his 44 Tests in charge, noted that McCullum had left the red-ball side “well-set and poised to achieve great things.” Former England captain Nasser Hussain, however, lauded McCullum’s early impact but agreed that now is the right moment for him to depart the Test role, citing recent performances and the Ashes as part of the reasoning.
The discussion comes amid calls for clarity around the team’s culture and leadership as England prepare for the next phase of red-ball cricket, with the aim of restoring competitiveness and glory in future Test campaigns.