Joe Root Reflects on Brendon McCullum's Departure as England Test Coach

In a heartfelt reflection, England's Test captain Joe Root expressed his disappointment over Brendon McCullum's departure as head coach. Root praised McCullum for his significant impact on his game and shared his gratitude for their continued collaboration in white-ball cricket. With Stephen Fleming now taking the helm as Test coach, Root looks forward to working with him, acknowledging Fleming's impressive coaching record. This transition comes after Ben Stokes stepped down from his captaincy following a challenging series. Discover more about Root's insights and the future of England's cricket team in the full article.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 12, 2026, 23:39 IST

Joe Root's Sentiments on McCullum's Exit

London [UK], August 12: Joe Root, the captain of the England cricket team, shared his feelings regarding the exit of head coach Brendon McCullum from his role as the Test coach. He commended McCullum for enhancing his performance and altering his viewpoint on the game.

While McCullum will continue to serve as the head coach for England's white-ball format, Stephen Fleming, a former teammate from New Zealand, has stepped in as the new Test head coach.

Root expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with McCullum in white-ball cricket and extended his best wishes for McCullum's new position.

Earlier this month, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the appointments of Fleming as head coach and Root as the Test captain, succeeding McCullum and Ben Stokes.

Stokes had resigned from his role as Test captain and announced his retirement from international cricket following England's 2-1 Test series loss to New Zealand in June, which followed a 4-1 defeat in the Ashes series against Australia.

Root candidly admitted, “I was really upset when I learned that Brendon would no longer be the Test coach. He has truly helped me excel as a player. I appreciate his perspective on the game and how he has encouraged me to view it differently,” during an interview on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast.

He continued, “I believe he is an outstanding coach. I’m pleased that we can still collaborate on white-ball cricket. I owe him a lot, and we have developed a close relationship. The white-ball teams are performing exceptionally well, and I wish him all the best in that role.”

Root also praised Fleming, noting his long-standing admiration for him as both a player and a captain. He acknowledged Fleming's impressive coaching achievements and expressed eagerness to work with him, despite Fleming's primary experience being in T20 cricket.

“Fleming and I have interacted a bit over the years as he has coached various teams globally. He is someone I have always respected,” Root remarked.

“I admired him greatly as a player, particularly for how he conducted himself as a captain. His coaching record is remarkable, even if it has been mainly in T20 formats. I am looking forward to what lies ahead,” he concluded.