‘India Have Done It’: Atherton Shares Major Insights After ECB Appoints McCullum as All-Format Coach

England's white-ball head coach role sparked a lot of debate after Matthew Mott stepped down from the position. His departure came after the team failed to defend the ODI World Cup title in 2023. The Three Lions also fell to eventual champions India in the T20 World Cup semifinal. After much anticipation, the team's red-ball coach, Brendon McCullum, has been appointed for white-ball duties, and he will be taking charge of the teams in both formats. After the announcement, Michael Atherton offers a big take on McCullum's appointment.

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Michael Atherton Offers Big Take on Brendon McCullum’s Appointment as England’s White-Ball Coach

While speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Michael Atherton believes that taking up England's white-ball coaching duties will be challenging for Coach Brendon McCullum. The former English Cricketer added that he is not doubting Coach McCullum's credentials, but it will be an extra responsibility for him to take over. Atherton also pointed out that it is something which Team India has done.

"I don't doubt McCullum's credentials at all, but the challenge will be just the extra responsibility, the extra time that it takes to plan and prepare and get a one-day team ready to play.

"That's how India have done it. They've had one man doing both, Rahul Dravid, until recently, but others have stepped in from time to time to give the head coach a break. When McCullum took the Test job, he said he thought the one-day job was a bit of a cushy role because that was going so well under Eoin Morgan and the Test team was more of a challenge, and that's almost flipped now," Michael Atherton said.

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The England Cricket Board has appointed red-ball mentor Brendon as the head coach of the white-ball teams, making him an all-format coach for the Three Lions. The New Zealander has been a part of the team since 2022 and has implemented the infamous 'Bazball', and its touch could be seen in England's white-ball games as well. Coach McCullum will take charge of both red-ball and white-ball sides starting January 2025.