(AP Photo)
Eoin Morgan, the former England captain, is convinced that Brendon McCullum is the perfect candidate to replace Matthew Mott as the head coach of England’s white-ball team. Morgan is confident that McCullum, who already has a role in coaching red-ball cricket, will be able to handle the additional responsibilities of the white-ball role effectively.
Matthew Mott recently stepped down from his position as England’s white-ball head coach after two years, during which the team struggled to defend their titles in the ODI and T20 World Cups. In the interim, assistant coach Marcus Trescothick will assume control of the white-ball squad, particularly with the upcoming series against Australia on the horizon.
“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.”
“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.”
“This is not an opportunity for a young guy to come in. You want the best person on the planet to come in and help Jos Buttler and the England cricket team get better,” said Morgan on Sky Sports Cricket during the broadcast of The Hundred.
As the Test team’s head coach, Brendon McCullum has built a successful collaboration with captain Ben Stokes, leading England to victory in 17 of their 25 Test matches to date. During this period, they have suffered just eight losses and drawn one game.
“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.”
“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,” added Morgan, who captained England to 2019 ODI World Cup win.
Despite speculation linking Eoin Morgan to the role of England’s white-ball coach, he has firmly ruled himself out of consideration for the position. “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),” he concluded.
