'Played cricket equivalent to T20': Former England stars recall fond memories of Brendon McCullum's revolutionary Bazball
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'Played cricket equivalent to T20': Former England stars recall fond memories of Brendon McCullum's revolutionary Bazball originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Former England cricketers praise Brendon McCullum for reviving Test cricket's excitement.
- McCullum leaves after mixed record, sacked following New Zealand series loss.
- Off-field controversies and dwindling results marked his final months.
Former England stars look back fondly on Bazball
A host of former England cricketers, including Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, David Lloyd and Phil Tufnell, have looked back with genuine fondness at the era Brendon McCullum built through his now-famous Bazball approach, crediting the New Zealander for injecting fresh life into Test cricket during his time in charge.
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McCullum took over England's Test setup back in 2022, and paired with skipper Ben Stokes, oversaw a stunning stretch of 10 victories from his opening 11 matches, with the team embracing a brand of aggressive, fearless cricket rarely seen before at that level.
However, that early magic gradually faded, and he departed the role without having beaten either Australia or India in a series. By the numbers, his overall record as Test coach reads 27 wins, two draws and 20 losses, with seven of those defeats arriving in just the last nine matches.
The England and Wales Cricket Board relieved McCullum of his Test duties following the recent home series loss to New Zealand.
He continues, however, to hold his position as head coach of England's white-ball setup, with his contract running until the conclusion of the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in autumn 2027.
The unravelling truly began with a heavy 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia, after which McCullum, Stokes and cricket director Rob Key were initially retained in their roles. It was ultimately a 2-1 home series defeat to New Zealand that proved decisive, first costing Stokes his place and then McCullum his job, while Key remains in position with continued backing from ECB chief executive Richard Gould.
MORE: RCB's Andy Flower explains why he has ruled himself out of England coaching role
Former players reminisce about the McCulum era with admiration
Speaking about his time in charge, Alastair Cook remembered McCullum simply for constantly pushing boundaries, while Phil Tufnell agreed enthusiastically, recalling how Bazball brought back genuine joy to Test cricket and left him stunned by what he was witnessing in its early days.
"Resurrecting the joy of test match cricket. I still remember the start of Bazball and everything. I was like, wow, what is going on here?" Tufnell commented.
David Lloyd summed up the era by noting that cricket became must-watch entertainment precisely because it resembled T20 cricket.
"Cricket was big news because it was sexy. And they played cricket equivalent to T20. They've run out of steam. They had to change. And they didn't change," he said.
"Resurrecting the joy of Test match cricket." ❤️ 🏏
— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) July 17, 2026
What was Brendon McCullum's best moment as England Test coach? 🏴 pic.twitter.com/FgGDVSpQm9
Bazabll: A legacy worth celebrating, despite the ending
McCullum deserves genuine credit here. Test cricket was becoming a hard sell before Bazball arrived, and he made it must-watch television again, even if the philosophy eventually collided with reality against tougher opposition.
Entertainment and results aren't always the same thing, and his inability to beat India or Australia in a series remains a real blemish. Still, judging him purely on the scoreboard misses the point.
He changed how an entire generation thinks about batting under pressure, and that cultural shift will outlast his tenure.
The ECB now faces a tricky balancing act: finding a successor who can retain that fearless spirit while fixing the tactical gaps that turned strength into weakness once the Bazball era ran its course.
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