Brendon McCullum emerges as a shock candidate to become England’s new Test coach

England might be about to spring a shock by making Brendon McCullum their Check coach.

A second day of interviews on Tuesday ended with the New Zealander changing into a powerful candidate for the red-ball job reasonably than the white-ball function in England’s new set-up.

And plainly Ben Stokes, with Check cricket now the England precedence, might have gotten his means over Eoin Morgan in eager to type a high-octane red-ball partnership with McCullum.

Sportsmail revealed on Friday that McCullum, the important thing determine behind New Zealand’s rise in each purple and white ball cricket, was a brand new title on the radar of England managing director Rob Key.

And although McCullum, head coach of the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, is thought extra for his white-ball prowess, it was additionally revealed that England had famous his function in starting a red-ball journey with New Zealand that led to final 12 months’s World Check Championship.

Gary Kirsten had been the recent favorite for the red-ball function and there may nonetheless be a spot for him in England’s new set-up, maybe as coach in white-ball cricket the place he led India to the 2011 50-over World Cup.

Kirsten has twice been near teaching England’s Check facet earlier than, narrowly lacking out to Chris Silverwood final time, and it might nicely be a case of third time unfortunate if he’s pipped on the publish this week by McCullum.

It’s actually an attractive prospect. McCullum is an enormous advocate of constructive, aggressive however selfless cricket within the Stokes mould and their partnership can be the perfect means for England to win spherical disillusioned Check supporters.

England want an infusion of positivity after their determined run of only one win within the final 17 Assessments and McCullum seems a greater match alongside new captain Stokes than the extra calm, measured South African Kirsten.

White-ball captain Morgan is an in depth good friend of McCullum and would definitely like to affix forces with a person who has been his inspiration forward of what’s going to most likely be his final hurrah as England captain at this October’s Twenty20 World Cup.

However Morgan has suggested Key on the easiest way ahead for the Check facet and will have accepted that Stokes’ want is bigger than his within the carving up of the teaching choices at England’s disposal.

Key informed Nasser Hussain in a Sportsmail interview final week he would enable his new coaches to stay in IPL whereas there stays no conflict with worldwide cricket, saying: ‘I’d reasonably have the most effective particular person for 10 months than the incorrect one for 12.’

That will go well with each McCullum, 40, and the 54-year-old Kirsten, who’s mentor and batting coach of the Gujarat Titans.

Former Kent captain Secret’s prone to declare his hand later this week and sources near the choice on Tuesday evening indicated the white-ball function might be a three-way battle between Kirsten, Simon Katich and Paul Collingwood. It’s understood Nick Knight and Mark Alleyne are additionally being thought-about for roles within the set-up.