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Morgan backs McCullum to become England's white-ball coach
Follow UsThere have also been reports about Eoin Morgan taking over the role but the 37-year-old is not too keen
Eoin Morgan feels England’s Test head coach Brendon McCullum is the right man to take over from Matthew Mott as the side’s white-ball head coach. On Tuesday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced that the 2022 T20 World Cup-winning head coach, Mott, has stepped down from his role as the head coach.
The move comes after two disappointments, one at the ODI World Cup in 2023 and a T20 World Cup in 2024. For now, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has taken over the role on an interim basis, with the Australia series not too far away.
“In my eyes at the moment, you would go to Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting, Stephen Fleming and Brendon McCullum. I say that because I believe he (McCullum) is one of the best coaches in the world. You can see what he did with the England Test team,” said Morgan on Sky Sports Cricket.
“Yes, the big question will be how he makes it fit over the course of the 12 months, but from Rob Key’s point of view, he needs to make the job attractive. The option is not to have someone come in and let them grow in the job. You’re talking about winning World Cups and winning Champions trophies.”
England’s Director of Cricket, Rob Key, said the team was looking in a ‘new direction' and that’s exactly what McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes have done with the England Test team. Under Stokes and McCullum, England have won 17 out of 27 Tests.
“I’m not sure McCullum has been given a lot of thought and if anything he should. Key should have that conversation because we’ve seen a dramatic turnaround in the England Test team and the foil that he’s made with Stokes,” said Morgan, who led England to 2019 ODI World Cup win.
“I’ve played under Brendon as a coach. We’ve seen what he’s done in New Zealand cricket over the years and the success that he’s had. He’s a very versatile, more than capable coach who is highly, highly regarded, who ultimately has made the England Test team a better side, which is what you want from your head coach.”
There have also been reports about Morgan taking over the role but the 37-year-old is not too keen. “I’ve been asked a lot over the last couple months about the role and whether I would take it on. My answer has simply been, the timing for everything in my life at the moment is not right.
“Yes, I want to coach down the line, but I’ve got a young family and I spend a lot more time at home. I’m loving what I’m doing, watching cricket through this (commentating).”
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