ECB dismisses Brendon McCullum as England Test coach

The England and Wales Cricket Board has dismissed Brendon McCullum as head coach of the men's Test team, ending his four-year tenure and the aggressive "Bazball" era he championed alongside captain Ben Stokes. The decision, announced on July 12, 2026, follows a rapid decline in results, including a recent 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand. McCullum will continue to lead England's white-ball sides.

The loss to New Zealand was England's first in a home series of three or more Tests since 2012 and marked their seventh defeat in nine matches. This poor run included a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia last season and a 2-1 series loss in Pakistan. The ECB's chief executive, Richard Gould, stated that while McCullum had "breathed new life" into the Test side, the board believed "the time is right to make a change as we target victory in the Ashes next summer."

McCullum said he was "gutted" not to be continuing but respected the decision. His appointment in 2022 had sparked an immediate revival, with England winning 10 of their first 11 Tests under his and Stokes's leadership, achieving historic series wins including a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan. However, results deteriorated sharply...