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Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has decided to step down from the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) head coach post at the end of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) as he is set to take over the reigns of England head coach job.
It has been learnt that McCullum informed the KKR players about the development during a recent team meeting.
“He informed us that he won’t be part of KKR going ahead as he will be taking up a job as England cricket team coach. He informed us during a team meeting a few days ago,” a KKR insider said.
McCullum, part of KKR in the inaugural edition in 2008 when he hit a swashbuckling 158 in the first-ever IPL match, has also played for and coached Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.
Meanwhile, the English Cricket Board (ECB) could soon make a formal announcement. The former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman has emerged as the favourite to become England’s Test coach, the BBC and other British media reported. A formal announcement is due this week.
England, post facing a 0-4 debacle in the Ashes last year, sacked Silverwood from the head coach position and Paul Collingwood was appointed as the interim head coach for the next Test series against West Indies. However, England yet again lost 0-1 in West Indies and the search for the full-time head coach role continued. While many names were discussed in the last few weeks, it has finally come down to McCullum and the official announcement is expected to come soon.
Reports said 40-year-old McCullum had expressed his interest in the job. McCullum played the last of his 101 Tests in Christchurch in February 2016 against Australia, when he hit the fastest century in the format (54 balls), finishing his career with 6,453 runs, 12 tons and 31 half-centuries.
If McCullum does take over as England’s Test coach, it will add a layer of intrigue to his first assignment on the job – a three-match home series against the Kiwis. England have already unveiled New Zealand-born Ben Stokes as their new Test captain, hoping for a swift turnaround under the talismanic all-rounder after a tame end to Joe Root’s five years in charge.
