Brendon McCullum has apologised for England’s results under his leadership after he was sacked as Test coach on Sunday.
England have lost seven of their past nine Tests, 19 of their past 38, and have not won a five-match series against either Australia or India in McCullum’s four years in charge.
The New Zealander will remain as head coach of England’s white-ball teams and has a contract until the end of the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in the autumn of 2027. “It’s a results business and, unfortunately, we weren’t able to get the results we wanted and for that I’m sorry,” McCullum told BBC Sport. “India and Australia are the marquee series and if you don’t win those you haven’t quite been able to achieve what you wanted to. We achieved some good stuff over the four years but, fundamentally, the results didn’t live up to it at the back end, hence the decision was made.” McCullum’s exit is the latest twist in the unravelling of the England Test team. His sacking came two weeks after former captain Ben Stokes made a sudden announcement to retire from international cricket. The collapse of the Bazball era began with a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. In the aftermath, McCullum, Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key were allowed to keep their jobs. But a 2-1 series defeat at home by New Zealand was the end firstly for Stokes, then McCullum. Key remains in his post and has been given long-term backing by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould.