LONDON, May 28(ABC): England’s new Test coach Brendon McCullum hopes his outsider status as a New Zealander will help rid the under-performing team of their “fear of failure” after a dismal 15 months.
The former Kiwi captain — appointed earlier this month — has inherited an England side that sits rock bottom of the World Test Championship with just one win in 17 Tests.
England — also with a new captain in charge in Ben Stokes — face a tough start against New Zealand in the first of a three-match series at Lord s, beginning next Thursday.
They then play India in a single Test after the fifth match of last year s series was called off due to a coronavirus outbreak, before a series against South Africa.
The 40-year-old McCullum believes the strain of playing so much cricket during stifling coronavirus restrictions was a major factor in England s poor run of form, which included a 4-0 Ashes drubbing.
“I think the bubbles were difficult for them (England),” McCullum told reporters at Lord s on Friday. “And when you lose one or two games that can snowball.”
“I see guys who are maybe just a little bit struck by the fear of failure rather than the possibility of success,” added the former New Zealand skipper, who explained he wanted a relaxed approach that would strip players of unwanted “baggage”.
“If we can do that, talent can come to the fore.”