McCullum is poised to be appointed England’s Test coach

Following two days of interviews at Lord’s, Brendon McCullum has emerged as the favourite for the vacant position of England’s Test coach, and might be named this week.

McCullum, who is in his third season as the coach of the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, has never coached a first-class match and was widely expected to be a candidate for the white-ball job, with the ECB splitting the main coaching roles down format lines due to England’s busy schedule and growing disparity between their sides.

Following the first round of interviews earlier this week, various British publications reported on Tuesday night that McCullum is currently in line for the Test post. It’s possible that an agreement will be reached before the end of the week, with England’s first summer Test against McCullum’s home nation, New Zealand, scheduled for June 2.

McCullum has only had limited-overs coaching experience, but as a captain, he was a major member of the leadership group that oversaw New Zealand’s resurgence as a Test team from 2012 to 2016, alongside coach Mike Hesson.