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Brendon McCullum: New England Test coach wants to avoid rotation

By Stephan ShemiltChief cricket writer at Lord's

Last updated on .From the section CricketBBC Russian393

Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum played 101 Tests for New Zealand

New Test coach Brendon McCullum says "his" England will pick their best team at every opportunity, rather than resting and rotating players.

England spent much of last year rotating the Test team, partly in response to the demands of Covid-19.

"I'll probably get in trouble, but I like to pick the best team every time," McCullum told BBC Sport.

"My job will be to plan as if you'll live forever, but live as if you'll die tomorrow."

The 40-year-old was speaking to the media for the first time since being appointed Test coach earlier this month.

His first Test in charge, against his native New Zealand, begins at Lord's on Thursday.

Veteran pace bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been recalled to the England squad after being left out of the series defeat in West Indies in March.

Aged 39 and 35 respectively, with 321 caps and 1,117 wickets between them, Anderson and Broad have played together in only 10 of England's past 26 Tests.

McCullum, however, would have no hesitation in playing them in the same XI.

"Why not? They can work together," he said. "They have had successful careers together.

"There might have been times when the combination might not have been as good as everyone hoped, but there are circumstances around that - there might not have been enough runs, or they were bowling in benign conditions. I'm certainly not against picking them together."

England have won only one of their past 17 Tests. The series against New Zealand marks the beginning of a new era with McCullum working alongside newly installed Test captain Ben Stokes.

The former New Zealand skipper was known for his aggressive batting and innovative captaincy. He sees similarities between himself and Stokes.

"He's going to be a wonderful leader," said McCullum, who played 101 Tests for his country. "He plays the game how I like it to be played and puts bums on seats.

"He might fly. He might grab the captaincy and go to a whole new level again. We'll just play what we see and feel in that moment - and I'm sure the relationship between Stokesy and I will really flourish."

With England winless in their past five Test series, McCullum says he is aware of the "big job" in front of him.

However, he said he will not attempt to reverse England's fortunes by expecting every player to copy his attacking style.

"I'm very different as a coach to how I was as a player," said McCullum, whose previous coaching experience is in T20 leagues in India and the Caribbean.

"I like to allow guys to get to where they need to, to realise their potential rather than play how I played. I'd never want anyone to do that - that comes with an immense amount of disappointment at times. It's not for everyone, that style.

"Your job as coach is to understand everyone's game, understand them as people, get to know them and understand their aspirations. You try to piece that all together for one common goal."

And McCullum, who led New Zealand to the 50-over World Cup final in 2015, expects some "difficult emotions" when he lines up against the world Test champions next week.

"Obviously I have knowledge of the New Zealand guys. We've been on a lot of great journeys together," he added.

"I have a job to do here. If we expect New Zealand to play well, then that means we'll have to play a little bit better."

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393 comments

  • Comment posted by No such thing as an honest Tory, at 13:16 27 May 2022

    If England players are not picked they should be allowed to play for their county team rather than resting. The number of test matches and international tours is one of the main reasons the team as failed over recent years.

    • Reply posted by boating-voter, at 15:08 27 May 2022

      boating-voter replied:
      Yes - the lack of Test class players being "allowed" to play for their counties is part of why the standard of the county championship has dropped, which in turn is a large part of why the Test team is so poor.

      Criminal mismanagement by ECB

  • Comment posted by Terry, at 13:37 27 May 2022

    Breath of fresh air after the nonsense of last few years. England not bottom of the test league for nothing

    • Reply posted by oakleyrob, at 20:11 27 May 2022

      oakleyrob replied:
      Think it is also different times again now, some of the rotation was done for player welfare reasons.

  • Comment posted by Oscar 1, at 13:12 27 May 2022

    Totally agree with that thought. As an ex sportsman particularly in the professional field picking the best 11 available is a no brainer. Others get their chance with injury etc that can and will happen. Ollie Robinson is a classical beware case. Needs to be told a harsh truth "youre not fit enough" go and get it sorted then you may get considered for selection

    • Reply posted by D1710604827815, at 13:45 27 May 2022

      D1710604827815 replied:
      Robinson needs to get his act together. Far too many injuries for a bowler of his pace. Test cricket is a step up from county stuff; more intense with longer spells.

  • Comment posted by Bassybert, at 14:33 27 May 2022

    How refreshing it is to have someone in charge who speaks with common sense, honesty, and openness about the game rather than trying to second guess every possible outcome and repeating the same old tired sound byte’s.

    It’s been so frustrating watching England’s paralysis by analysis approach over the years.

    I’m genuinely excited about the what’s in store for the test team.

    • Reply posted by greenlegend, at 15:38 27 May 2022

      greenlegend replied:
      Spellcheck: "soundbites". And no apostrophe, please.

  • Comment posted by Mickey Mouse, at 13:16 27 May 2022

    Professor 👨‍🏫 McCullum at your service; the mans a genius. Why didn’t anyone else think of playing your best side!!! I think he’s onto something really big here. Keep it secret 🤫

    • Reply posted by rpb, at 14:04 27 May 2022

      rpb replied:
      I have always said you lay your best team. It’s those commentators who say people should be dropped just because of their age not ability who have wanted to play a weakened side.

  • Comment posted by Mike101, at 14:14 27 May 2022

    Why the heck would any sportsman want to be rotated in Test Cricket, particularly if they are in form. It was madness and maddening.

    • Reply posted by Rizla, at 14:20 27 May 2022

      Rizla replied:
      fatigue?

  • Comment posted by Perton66, at 13:28 27 May 2022

    Pick the best team you have available to you, taking into account the conditions. Not rocket science!

    • Reply posted by margaret, at 09:23 28 May 2022

      margaret replied:
      Ben Stokes is said to be considering his position, why was he ever even offered the captaincy, utter incompetence from the ECB. A laughing stock

  • Comment posted by ben6464, at 13:11 27 May 2022

    No need for "rotation" none of the test squad play county matches, there isn't enough Internation Cricket to bother resting a player for a full series.

    • Reply posted by wolsey41, at 16:20 27 May 2022

      wolsey41 replied:
      ???? Most of the picked test squad have been playing for their counties this season, Broad, Anderson, Root, Stokes, etc the only one who hasn’t is Bairstow who has been playing IPL.

  • Comment posted by Shraps, at 14:16 27 May 2022

    Great statement from McCullen .. rotating players does not work for a settled team .. and how that has shown over the last few years .. you always play your best team

    • Reply posted by Rizla, at 14:20 27 May 2022

      Rizla replied:
      Problem is, who are the first choice openers?
      Who are the first choice bowlers when its not swinging?

  • Comment posted by hony, at 13:29 27 May 2022

    I think Brendon McCullum will make the big difference. A great selection as a coach of English Cricket Team.

    • Reply posted by 4RM ULA E, at 14:41 27 May 2022

      4RM ULA E replied:
      Brendon always made me think that this is a guy, that I would not want to get on the wrong side off.
      If he can manage the media, stick to his vision and get the right players being called up through selection, I think McCullum will have enough knowledge behind him to improve this England Test side. I would expect a good battle against NZ at home in all three test matches.

  • Comment posted by bonzodoodog, at 13:06 27 May 2022

    Totally agree about rotation these international players are being paid lots of dosh to entertain us and personally with high ticket prices and travel I’d like too see the top players playing !! Not sitting in stands or carrying more towels and water on !!

    • Reply posted by Sam, at 15:19 27 May 2022

      Sam replied:
      I thought it was about winning, entertainment is a bonus.

  • Comment posted by Cornish Granite, at 13:09 27 May 2022

    Picking your best available side? Hang on a minute......why didn't they think of that before. Good luck to him. I think he may need it.

    • Reply posted by margaret, at 11:23 28 May 2022

      margaret replied:
      Stokes is finished, before he even started a test as captain, what an utter shambles.

  • Comment posted by rpb, at 14:06 27 May 2022

    Finally after 60 years of following the England cricket team has the “building for the future” mantra been ditched.

  • Comment posted by shaun, at 13:14 27 May 2022

    good luck Brendan, like the idea of playing our best team every time, and so we should!!

  • Comment posted by HowNowMarkFrancois, at 17:37 27 May 2022

    Less weights in the gym. Less bleep-tests. Get fit for cricket by playing cricket.

    It might just catch on.

    • Reply posted by Hawzeeboy, at 17:40 27 May 2022

      Hawzeeboy replied:
      Way too much common sense.

  • Comment posted by WordtotheWise, at 14:52 27 May 2022

    Brendon talks sense and there hasn't been a lot of it from from the old ECB failures so onwards and upwards.

  • Comment posted by Yes boy, at 13:31 27 May 2022

    Good luck to him! He has a great cricketing brain and we can go an only go up from here (I hope!)

  • Comment posted by enanjay, at 14:33 27 May 2022

    At last, if you are not fir enough - go do another job! I am passionate about this rotation rubbish - it is for lazy people, who fail to give their all. Remember the days when we played Test, 60 over, 55 over and 40 over cricket in a season? Not much rotation there and we did well on the International Circuit.

    • Reply posted by D1706183840956, at 14:50 27 May 2022

      D1706183840956 replied:
      Did we do well? I remember England getting pumped by the likes of West Indies and Australia on the regular.

  • Comment posted by SirHarryBag, at 14:31 27 May 2022

    Well that's the no-brainer sorted. Now the somewhat larger challenge of getting the team to score 300+ in the first innings...

    • Reply posted by LMAV, at 16:29 27 May 2022

      LMAV replied:
      Openers putting on 50 for the first wicket would be a good start, and the one that isn't out first hanging around and scoring runs with nos 3,4 and 5

  • Comment posted by skank of the south, at 13:58 27 May 2022

    At last somebody with sense - shouldn't be too long b4 they ditch the 100 now

    • Reply posted by ExChief, at 14:08 27 May 2022

      ExChief replied:
      the 100 is not really to promote cricket to those who love test cricket, like us. It is, like 20:2, to promote it to younger folk. I work in a primary school and children here were talking about cricket (the 100) last year. This can only be good?

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