Brendon McCullum has been sacked as England’s Test cricket coach.
The maverick mentor has led England in red-ball cricket since 2022, and across all formats since 2025.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Sunday the New Zealander would stand down as the country’s Test coach with immediate effect, though he’ll continue to lead the England men’s white-ball teams.
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McCullum said that he was “gutted” his four years as coach had been brought to an end, but that he respected the ECB’s decision.
In a statement released by the ECB, McCullum said he had “loved coaching the Test side” and was “incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together”.
“There’ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that’s all part of taking on a challenge like this,” the former Black Caps wicketkeeper-batsman said.
“It’s been a privilege and an honour, and I’m grateful. Grateful to the players, the staff and the fans who supported us on the journey.
“Of course, I’m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I’ve got to the white ball teams and helping England keep moving forward.
“I wish the Test team nothing but success. There’s a hell of a lot of talent in that dressing room and they’re a special bunch of lads.
“I’ll always be backing the boys, with a smile on my face, and hoping they keep taking the game on. I know they’ll continue to make people proud.”
Under McCullum’s watch, England attempted to breathe new life into the red-ball game with cavalier aggression, and experienced great success in the early part of his tenure.
The former New Zealand captain led the English to home series wins against New Zealand (3-0) and South Africa (2-1), and an extraordinary away series win over Pakistan (3-0), in a burst of early form that drew the attention of the cricket world and earned his side the ‘Bazball’ monkier.
But McCullum ultimately led England to mediocre placings in each of his three World Test Championship cycles: fourth in 2021-23 (albeit having only taken over half-way through that cycle), fifth in 2023-25, and seventh on the current 2025-27 table.
He also oversaw a team which constantly courted off-field controversy in recent years.
Limited-overs captain Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a bouncer at a Wellington nightclub in 2025; the touring Ashes squad was widely criticised for a boozy trip to Noosa mid-way through the most recent Australia-England series last summer; and Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson each missed the second Test against New Zealand last month for breaking team curfew.
Stokes then retired mid-way through the third and final Test against the Kiwis after reports that he had fallen out with McCullum and England managing director, Rob Key.
In his final innings at Test level, and chasing a mammoth target of 373, Stokes promoted himself to open the batting and effectively threw his wicket away with reckless abandon, setting England up for a thumping loss.
Key on Sunday said some of England’s most memorable moments in recent history had occurred during McCullum’s tenure.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to watch him shape the mentality of the team, to one the players have loved, and see him develop a new generation of talent who will be at the heart of England men’s teams for years to come,” he said.
“He leaves the Test team well-set and poised to achieve great things.”
McCullum was contracted with the ECB until the end of the World Cup in South Africa next year on a lucrative deal believed to be worth around £2 million per year ($3.86m AUD).