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"I don't envisage it,": Brendon McCullum confident on England's preparation for Ashes

Arunima Purohit

Brendon McCullum [Source: @TUnlimitedd/X]Brendon McCullum [Source: @TUnlimitedd/X]

England head coach Brendon McCullum remains optimistic despite a disappointing loss to New Zealand in the recent ODI series. The Kiwis whitewashed England in the series, 3-0. Moreover, the former New Zealand skipper believes the result will not affect England's preparations for the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia later this month. 

McCullum downplays ODI defeat as format-specific

England's ODI campaign in New Zealand ended on a disappointing note, exposing inconsistencies in both the batting and bowling departments. However, McCullum insisted the loss should not be seen as a reflection of the team's Test form. He explained that the strategies and mental approach in limited-overs cricket often differ significantly from those required in Test matches in terms of intensity and patience.

"I don't envisage it. Obviously it's a different form of the game, and it's a completely different kind of challenge which we'll be confronted with as well. In T20 cricket, we're going really well. I think in test cricket, we've got a pretty good template of where we're at, and I think we've performed reasonably well, albeit we've got a huge challenge in front of us. I think one-day cricket is clearly the area we need to improve. I think when we do come across the trickier conditions in Australia and test cricket, I feel like we've got a pretty good understanding of how we're going to go about it," said McCullam in a press conference. 

Focus turns to Ashes preparations

A key positive for England from the New Zealand tour was the return of fast bowler Jofra Archer, who featured in the final two ODIs after recovering from an injury. McCullum spoke about how Archer's pace and control will be vital during the Australian Tests. 

"Obviously he had a little bit of time off and was a little bit late to this tour, but he was training the house down in Barbados. He'd done a lot of skill work as well as fitness work, and for him to get through two matches with his full quota of overs and build towards what's coming in the next couple of weeks is a big bonus," added McCullam.

Despite recent setbacks, the head coach remains confident that England's red-ball team is well-prepared, mentally strong, and capable of delivering a high-intensity performance against their oldest rivals. The Ashes 2025-26 is set to start on November 21 in Perth.