Sacked McCullum apologises for England results

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Brendon McCullum took charge of the England Test team in 2022 By Stephan Shemilt Cricket Correspondent at Edgbaston Published 12 minutes ago Brendon McCullum has apologised for England's results under his leadership after he was sacked as Test coach on Sunday. England have lost seven of their past nine Tests, 19 of their past 38, and have not won a five-match series against either Australia or India in McCullum's four years in charge. The New Zealander will remain as head coach of England's white-ball teams and has a contract until the end of the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in the autumn of 2027. "It's a results business and, unfortunately, we weren't able to get the results we wanted and for that I'm sorry," McCullum told BBC Sport. "India and Australia are the marquee series and if you don't win those you haven't quite been able to achieve what you wanted to. We achieved some good stuff over the four years but, fundamentally, the results didn't live up to it at the back end, hence the decision was made." McCullum's exit is the latest twist in the unravelling of the England Test team. His sacking came two weeks after former captain Ben Stokes made a sudden announcement to retire from international cricket. The collapse of the Bazball era began with a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. In the aftermath, McCullum, Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key were allowed to keep their jobs. But a 2-1 series defeat at home by New Zealand was the end firstly for Stokes, then McCullum. Key remains in his post and has been given long-term backing by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould. "Australia, we didn't get the outcome we wanted there," said former New Zealand captain McCullum. "Afterwards I thought we made some nice change, some good evolution, and tried to implement a few other different tactics and tweaks to the environment. "We obviously got beat by a good New Zealand side and that heaps more pressure on the results. At some stage, someone has to be responsible for that. I'll put my hand up and will wear that." From the ride to the rubble - how McCullum lost England Test job Published 20 hours ago England want new coach before Pakistan - who could it be? Published 21 hours ago The latter stages of McCullum's tenure have been blighted by off-field issues. During the winter, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and Ben Duckett were all involved in late-night incidents. After England won the first Test of the summer against New Zealand, the series was derailed by Stokes and Gus Atkinson breaking the team's midnight curfew and being present when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player. And McCullum accepted responsibility for what happened on and off the field. "I was the leader of that group. I was in charge of the team culturally, in charge of the team tactically, in charge of the team results wise as well," said McCullum. "If you don't get the r