England head coach Brendon McCullum has acknowledged that returning to winning ways is the only way to prove he is the right man for the job, while insisting his commitment to the role "never wavered".
McCullum remained in his post after England's 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, followed by a drawn home series against India — a poor return for a period described as era-defining for his tenure. With the first Rothesay Test against his native New Zealand starting next week, McCullum has outlined his blueprint for improvement. The aggressive 'Bazball' approach will not disappear entirely, but there is no room for style over substance. England face six matches this summer, three against New Zealand and three against Pakistan, and need to triumph in both series.
Asked whether his regime remained on trial, McCullum said: "I'm not really sure but, from my point of view, we're just focusing on trying to be a side which has improved on what we've been of late." He admitted that had his team nailed the big moments, conversations would differ, but "we know we've got some work to do".
He stressed that winning has always been important, and the team's style has never been purely about entertainment. "Some of the messages might have been slightly mixed around that, but there's always been a fierce ambition to succeed. We want to be a team which plays brave because we feel that playing brave gives you the best opportunity. Your job is to try and win, and that's what we're endeavouring to do."
The 44-year-old stated he never considered walking away: "I was always very keen to try and finish the job that we started. That never changed. It never wavered." He expressed optimism about the team's potential while remaining realistic about shortcomings. "It's not about reinventing the team per se, it's about sharpening what we've been doing and being a better version."
