"Unbelievable.." England test captain Ben Stokes reacts to Brendon McCullum's appointment as white-ball head coach

Brendon McCullum will take charge of the England white-ball team from the tour of India next year.

Ben Stokes, England’s test captain, has reacted to test coach Brendon McCullum’s appointment as England’s white-ball coach. He called the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) move to hand McCullum the reins of the white-ball team an “unbelievable move” for their cricket.

The ECB stated on Tuesday that McCullum will combine both duties at the beginning of 2025 as part of a new three-year contract that will extend his stint in English cricket until the end of 2027.

Since taking on the test duty in May 2022, McCullum, with the assistance of Stokes, has overseen a revolution in the culture and results of the Three Lions. Since then, England have won 19 out of 28 Tests. This resulted in six series triumphs out of nine, with only one defeat away to India at the start of this year.

McCullum will formally begin his new tenure in January 2025, with the white-ball tour of India and the ICC Champions Trophy.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Test team, and I’m excited to extend my role to include the white-ball sides. This new challenge is something I’m ready to embrace, and I’m eager to work closely with Jos and the team to build on the strong foundations that are already in place,” McCullum was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

McCullum will be the first England men’s coach since Chris Silverwood to supervise both the test and white-ball teams.

“I was very surprised,” Ben Stokes on Brendon McCullum becoming England white-ball coach

Ben Stokes revealed that he was surprised at the news of McCullum taking the England white-ball coaching role in addition to the test job. He reckons England’s white-ball cricket will benefit greatly by the former New Zealand captain.

“I was very surprised by the news. First and foremost, I think it’s an unbelievable move for English cricket to go back to having a coach in charge of all the teams. You look at what Baz has achieved with the Test side, it’s been amazing.

I’m really excited for the white-ball team to have the opportunity to be able to work with Baz, and listen to him speak, and his opinions. How his outlook on life reflects cricket, if that makes sense,” Stokes told ESPNCricinfo.

Stokes said he sees a lot of positives with McCullum’s selection, particularly for limited-overs captain Jos Buttler.

“I think Jos is going to really, really enjoy having him as his coach to work with. And you look at all the new faces who are coming into that white-ball team now, I couldn’t think of a better person for them to come in and work under at the international level for the first time.

“He just gives everyone the platform to go out and enjoy themselves. That doesn’t always necessarily mean it’s going to reflect on your performances, but Baz never puts any added pressure on anybody’s shoulders whatsoever so far. If there was any selfishness, selfishness within me, I would be saying ‘no, please don’t’. But I’m an English fan, I’m an England cricket fan and I couldn’t think of a better person to be appointed to be the new coach of the white-ball team as well,” Stokes added.

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