Post by bluetornados on Jun 1, 2022 16:34:23 GMT
Brendon McCullum has changed English cricket once. Now he's being paid to do it again.
Previously, it was inadvertent. His batting, captaincy and the New Zealand team he led to the final of the 2015 World Cup formed the inspiration for England's turnaround from one-day no-hopers to world champions in the space of four years.
This time, McCullum's influence will come from inside the dressing room - his task to revive a Test side that have been battered and bruised to the tune of one win in 17 matches.
At a stroke, his appointment made England trendy again. Not only through the excitement of what a McCullum-led outfit might actually play like against his native New Zealand on Thursday, but also because he is the first coach to turn up at Lord's with rolled-up jeans revealing bare ankles and no socks.
By his own admission, the 40-year-old has given up a "good life" in order to answer England's call, following coaching gigs in the Indian and Caribbean Premier Leagues, TV punditry and a breakfast radio show back home in New Zealand.
But it was the England white-ball revolution under his great mate Eoin Morgan - and the possibility of doing something similar with the Test team - that enticed McCullum's "grunty" aspirations.
"I reckon that was half the reason I took the job," he said. "It could be done with the white-ball side so why can't it be done with the Test side?"
To think of McCullum the player is to remember the maniac sprinting down the pitch to the world's fastest bowlers, carving the ball over extra cover for six.
Yes, he was a cavalier presence at the top of the order in limited-overs cricket, but he is also one of the most innovative captains of the modern era and the owner of a Test triple century.
The importance of the spirit of the game is something McCullum looks set to impress on England.
"I don't see the need to play in any other way," he said last week. "There is a mutual respect that should be across all teams. You still play hard on the field, but there are certain lines you don't need to cross."
On top of the nice guy attitude, it will be the task of McCullum and new captain Ben Stokes to find an identity for an England team that has suffered cricketing anonymity for too long.
Under the previous regime, coach Chris Silverwood and captain Joe Root talked of scoring "big first-innings runs" as if they had just invented fire.
For all his qualities as a batter and an even better human being, Root too often took leave of his tactical senses, something Stokes should be able to avoid with McCullum's 31 Tests as a captain in his corner.
"It's not rocket science," added McCullum. "You're trying to take wickets with the ball and shift pressure with the bat. It's not an overly extravagant gameplan - it's got some nice simplicity to it."
Those who know McCullum speak of a modest and humble character - he has frequently talked about removing "pressure" from the players.
"It's just allowing the guys to be able to make good decisions because they're in a clear frame of mind and a positive environment," he said.
It's a philosophy he has used away from the dressing room too.
Previously, it was inadvertent. His batting, captaincy and the New Zealand team he led to the final of the 2015 World Cup formed the inspiration for England's turnaround from one-day no-hopers to world champions in the space of four years.
This time, McCullum's influence will come from inside the dressing room - his task to revive a Test side that have been battered and bruised to the tune of one win in 17 matches.
At a stroke, his appointment made England trendy again. Not only through the excitement of what a McCullum-led outfit might actually play like against his native New Zealand on Thursday, but also because he is the first coach to turn up at Lord's with rolled-up jeans revealing bare ankles and no socks.
By his own admission, the 40-year-old has given up a "good life" in order to answer England's call, following coaching gigs in the Indian and Caribbean Premier Leagues, TV punditry and a breakfast radio show back home in New Zealand.
But it was the England white-ball revolution under his great mate Eoin Morgan - and the possibility of doing something similar with the Test team - that enticed McCullum's "grunty" aspirations.
"I reckon that was half the reason I took the job," he said. "It could be done with the white-ball side so why can't it be done with the Test side?"
To think of McCullum the player is to remember the maniac sprinting down the pitch to the world's fastest bowlers, carving the ball over extra cover for six.
Yes, he was a cavalier presence at the top of the order in limited-overs cricket, but he is also one of the most innovative captains of the modern era and the owner of a Test triple century.
The importance of the spirit of the game is something McCullum looks set to impress on England.
"I don't see the need to play in any other way," he said last week. "There is a mutual respect that should be across all teams. You still play hard on the field, but there are certain lines you don't need to cross."
On top of the nice guy attitude, it will be the task of McCullum and new captain Ben Stokes to find an identity for an England team that has suffered cricketing anonymity for too long.
Under the previous regime, coach Chris Silverwood and captain Joe Root talked of scoring "big first-innings runs" as if they had just invented fire.
For all his qualities as a batter and an even better human being, Root too often took leave of his tactical senses, something Stokes should be able to avoid with McCullum's 31 Tests as a captain in his corner.
"It's not rocket science," added McCullum. "You're trying to take wickets with the ball and shift pressure with the bat. It's not an overly extravagant gameplan - it's got some nice simplicity to it."
Those who know McCullum speak of a modest and humble character - he has frequently talked about removing "pressure" from the players.
"It's just allowing the guys to be able to make good decisions because they're in a clear frame of mind and a positive environment," he said.
It's a philosophy he has used away from the dressing room too.