Cricket-McCullum keen to stay on as England coach despite challenges


FILE PHOTO: Cricket - The Ashes - Australia v England - Fifth Test - Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia - January 6, 2026 England coach Brendon McCullum before the start of day 3 REUTERS/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/ File Photo

March 6 (Reuters) - England head coach ⁠Brendon McCullum said he intends to continue in the role despite ⁠his side’s exit from the Twenty20 World Cup following a seven‑run ‌defeat to holders India in Mumbai on Thursday.

McCullum, 44, took charge of England’s test setup in 2022 and added the white‑ball responsibilities in January 2025 under a contract running through 2027.

His ​tenure has included a difficult stretch, notably a 4-1 ⁠Ashes defeat in Australia that ⁠prompted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to launch a “thorough review” into the ⁠team’s ‌preparations in January.

"I love the job. It's a great job. It doesn't come without its challenges, of course, but that is the nature ⁠of it," McCullum told Sky Sports.

"I feel we have ​achieved some really ‌cool things over the last few years but there is still so ⁠much to achieve ​with the side, across all formats.

"A bit of time to reflect, to let things land and objectively look at what is and isn't working."

England fell short in their ⁠pursuit of 254 despite a blistering 105 off ​48 balls from Jacob Bethell on Thursday, and McCullum praised both the innings and the fight shown by the white-ball group under captain Harry Brook.

"I think the ⁠white-ball side has been exceptional post-Ashes, winning away in Sri Lanka and then getting to this stage at the T20 World Cup," McCullum said.

"I think we have played some good cricket with a real identity about it under ​Brook's captaincy.

"Harry Brook's leadership throughout, after a couple of ⁠tough months leading in… for him to have the mental fortitude to be able ​to galvanise the team, and connect the ‌side how he has, it's been superb," ​he said.

England will next host New Zealand in a three-match test series in June.

(Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena in BengaluruEditing by Shri Navaratnam)

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