McCullum sacked as coach of England's Test team, to remain in white-ball role

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mccullum-brendon/0KJ3u1y4/"]McCullum[/a], who was ‌appointed in 2022 just after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stokes-ben/bqDhqGMG/"]Ben Stokes[/a] was made Test captain, helped ‌transform [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/UJC5mtAU/"]England[/a]'s red-ball fortunes with a swashbuckling brand ‌of play that was quickly nicknamed 'Bazball'.[/p][p]While he has a ‌winning overall record coaching the side in Tests, ‌England have struggled more recently, losing seven of their last nine long-form games, including a 4-1 defeat in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/OxG0JfXg/"]Australia[/a] in the ‌Ashes this year.[/p][p]He will continue as head ⁠coach of the men's ‌white-ball teams, which the 44-year-old took charge of in January 2025 ​under a contract running through 2027.[/p][p]McCullum's departure comes in the wake of England's recent 2-1 home ​Test series defeat against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/G6PWlrQB/"]New Zealand[/a], near the end of which Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket.[/p][p][b]"Of ⁠course I'm gutted ​not to be continuing, but I respect the decision," [/b]McCullum said in an ECB statement.[/p][p][b]"I've absolutely loved coaching the Test team, and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved ‌together," [/b]he said.[/p][embed guid="d00dcf7f-8f0f-4c0a-8349-0ff0a808f058" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2076294261335536026" social-type="twitter" /][p]England's resounding Ashes defeat this year led to an ECB review of their performance, broader criticism of which included their seemingly casual preparations for the marquee series.[/p][p]There have also been questions about the side's dressing-room culture, with an incident involving Harry Brook and a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand last year remaining a distraction, while Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were suspended ‌for England's second Test against New Zealand last month ​after breaching a team curfew during a night out ‌in London.[/p][p]ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould paid tribute to former New Zealand captain McCullum's work.[/p][p][b]"Brendon breathed new life into England's test side during an exciting period that delivered some memorable victories, and we're grateful ⁠for everything he has ⁠given to the role,"[/b] ‌Gould said.[/p][embed guid="87bf25a0-8f2e-429e-8482-75dc06418961" url="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2076290484511907936" social-type="twitter" /][p]The ECB's search for a new head coach of the Test team will begin immediately.[/p]