McCullum Reveals Brook Could Lead England in Tests Soon
England’s white-ball head coach, Brendon McCullum, has thrown his support behind the team’s ODI and T20I captain, Harry Brook, claiming that his time as Test captain will come.
Brook served as vice-captain until the last Test series against New Zealand, during which McCullum was still England’s red-ball head coach and Ben Stokes was captain. However, after Stokes was sidelined for the second Test due to an internal investigation for a breach of curfew, Joe Root took over as captain.
Following the series loss and Stokes’ decision to retire, the ECB decided to give Root a second chance at the helm rather than looking to Brook.
Stokes strongly supported Brook for Test captaincy, and McCullum also praised the 27-year-old.”Everyone knows how much I care about Harry,” McCullum told Sky Sports.
He’s a fantastic player who is doing an excellent job as white-ball skipper. I believe his time will come in the Test position. I’m excited to work with him and help him develop into a leader.
At some point in the future, he will play a significant role in that capacity. But for now, McCullum believes Joe will do an excellent job.
While McCullum remains England’s ODI and T20I coach, the ECB has appointed Stephen Fleming as his Test replacement, following a four-year run that began and finished with a home series against New Zealand. McCullum praised his fellow New Zealander, who will take over the position he left empty.
“I had a great time in my four years, but now it’s going in a different direction; I think Flem will be fantastic,” McCullum remarked. “He’s a little like me, but better.
That’s how I’d describe him. He’ll do an excellent job, and the ECB has done an incredible job in attracting someone like him to commit to English cricket for such an extended amount of time. It’s an incredible accomplishment.
McCullum and Fleming have a tight relationship and aim to help England cricket achieve success in all three formats.
We communicate almost every day; we’re good friends. We’ve accomplished a lot together, and he’s one of those men I absolutely trust. “We both want the best for English cricket.
“We want to put this up so that English cricket can succeed in all three formats of the game. That will require some give and take at times, as we both understand, but we will work very closely together to give everyone the best chance to achieve the achievement that we all desire,” McCullum continued.
Marcus Trescothick will coach England’s next Test against Pakistan at home in August-September, before Fleming takes over for the tour of South Africa in December 2026.
