McCullum’s coaching career has moved quickly since he retired as a player
ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-2022December 2015
McCullum announces he will retire from international cricket at the end of New Zealand’s home summer, ahead of the T20 World Cup in India. “I’ve loved my opportunity to play for, and captain, the Blackcaps, but all good things have to come to an end, and I’m just grateful for the wonderful experience of playing for my country,” he says.February 2016
McCullum signs off from Test cricket with a 54-ball hundred, the fastest in Test cricket, against Australia in Christchurch. “As a good team man, it would be nice to be remembered,” he says. “As a guy who played for the right reasons and who, if in doubt, was prepared to take the positive option.”June 2016
Delivering the annual MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture at Lord’s, McCullum criticises the “casual” approach of the ICC’s anti-corruption unit, a year after giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court against his former team-mate Chris Cairns who was later cleared of all charges. “If we are to get rid of the scourge of match-fixing, a robust governing body is essential,” he says.May 2018
In an interview with the Cricket Monthly, McCullum suggests that T20 will supersede Tests. “I firmly believe that Test cricket won’t be around in time, because there’s only so many teams that can afford to play it,” he says. “And whilst we all adore Test cricket, and for me it is the purest form of the game – I’m loyal to it – I’m also a realist that people are turning up and watching T20.” He continues to play for various franchises around the world including Lahore Qalandars, Trinbago Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.November 2018
McCullum calls time on his stint at Lahore Qalandars after enduring two difficult seasons as captain. Qalandars finish bottom of the league on both occasions as McCullum struggles with the bat. In the first year, he manages just 93 runs in seven innings; in the second, his 218 runs in ten innings come at a strike rate of just 110.65. “A big thank you to Lahore Qalandars for the past two seasons,” he says. “Today we have parted ways but I leave with fond memories and friendships. I wish you all the best in the future.”Brendon McCullum takes a lap of honour in his final home game in the BBL•Getty ImagesFebruary 2019
After going unsold at the IPL auction and enduring an underwhelming season for Brisbane Heat, McCullum calls time on his career in the Big Bash. “I will continue to play T20 cricket in 2019 in various competitions around the world and will then look to transition into a coaching career,” he says.August 2019
McCullum announces he will retire from all cricket after the Global T20 Canada. “As much as I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in my 20 years of professional career – more than I ever could have dreamed of when I first entered the game – I have felt the drive to keep going harder to maintain in recent months,” he writes in a statement. He hits 36 off 22 balls in his final innings, days before his team Toronto Nationals refuse to take the field due to unpaid wages.Ten days later, he is unveiled as head coach of both Knight Riders franchises: Trinbago in the CPL and Kolkata in the IPL, taking over from Simon Katich and Jacques Kallis respectively.September 2019
Trinbago finish fourth in the six-team group stage in CPL 2019 following back-to-back title-winning seasons. They beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the eliminator but fall short against Barbados Tridents in the second qualifier, placing them third overall.September 2020
McCullum’s TKR side win all 12 of their games in CPL 2020, including an eight-wicket win against St Lucia Zouks in the final. “You could take this team anywhere around the world they’ll be highly competitive against any franchise that plays T20 cricket,” he says.KKR’s Brendon McCullum and Abhishek Nayar look on•BCCINovember 2020
Eoin Morgan, McCullum’s close friend, replaces Dinesh Karthik as KKR’s captain midway through the group stages but the team finishes fifth in IPL 2020, missing out on the playoffs on net run rate.April 2021
KKR start the season with five defeats in seven games before the tournament is put on hold because of the worsening second wave of Covid-19 in India. “It’s very, very disappointing,” McCullum says. “A saying that I’ve used throughout my career is that if you can’t change a man, change the man. So we’ll probably have to make some changes and try and bring in some fresh personnel who will hopefully take the game on a bit more.”August 2021
McCullum misses the CPL because of “personal reasons and Covid-related travel restrictions” and is replaced as Trinbago’s head coach by Imran Jan. He continues to work as a broadcaster as well as a coach, primarily for Spark Sport in New Zealand.October 2021
The IPL resumes in the UAE and McCullum’s KKR side charge to the final, winning seven out of nine games before falling to Chennai Super Kings at the final hurdle. “We’ll walk away with our heads held high,” he says.May 2022
With KKR struggling in IPL 2022, winning five of their first 12 games under new captain Shreyas Iyer, McCullum emerges as a candidate for one of the vacant England coaching roles, with new managing director Rob Key splitting the jobs down format lines. Initially linked with the white-ball role, he is appointed as England’s new Test coach. “I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present, and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we’ve confronted them head-on,” he says.
