Last update: 15/06/22 22:37
Stuart Broad has been impressed by the communication and leadership of Brendon McCullum
Stuart Brod revealed that test coach Brenton McCallum helped inspire England’s Trent Bridge triumph by urging his new team to “run into danger”.
McCullum took office just a few weeks ago with the promise of bringing a new, positive outlook to a team that had failed to win any of the previous five series of tests and immediately managed to change the atmosphere.
He has received rave reviews from his accusers for the mood of cheerfulness and optimism he has brought to the band, with the results on the pitch also receiving a sharp rise.
After an impressive victory over McCullum’s New Zealand team-mates at Lord’s, England made an amazing run in the second Test – reaching the 299 target in just 50 over.
Just a year earlier, an England team led by Chris Silverwood had conceded a draw after refusing to score 273 in 75 over against the same opponents.
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Highlights of the fifth day of the second test between England and New Zealand from Trent Bridge
Highlights of the fifth day of the second test between England and New Zealand from Trent Bridge
“There is no doubt that Baz (McCullum) already had an impact,” said Broad, who has previously played for England under Peter Moores, Andy Flower, Trevor Bayliss and Silverwood.
“It feels really fresh and exciting in the locker room. It’s a very positive language. It’s a very forward thinking, all about how to move this game forward.
“This is not digging, but for tea, when we were four with the game slightly in balance, I was definitely in locker rooms in the past where the store would close.
“The Buzz team’s talk was a lot of ‘let’s take the risk, let’s run the risk’, so every part of your mind is to go for this win. It was always ‘we will win’ and if it doesn’t work, don’t worry about this.”
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Snapshots from Jonny Bairstow’s incredible hundred in the second innings of the second Test between England and New Zealand
Snapshots from Jonny Bairstow’s incredible hundred in the second innings of the second Test between England and New Zealand
McCullum promised to eliminate the “noise” around the England team and Broad was impressed by his ability to combine his mind about the game with a simplified mission statement.
“I do not think he has spoken very deeply, his whole mantra is enjoyment and fun. The energy is: How good is the cricket test? How good is this ground? What can we get out of it today?” said the 35-year-old sailor.
“He looks like a guy who has a cricket brain working all the time, he’s thinking about how we can change the game. this.”
However, the positive impact of McCullum was only a platform on the Trent Bridge. It was Jonny Bairstow who turned his words into memorable deeds, smashing a century of 77 bullets into a game that changes the 179 run partnership with Ben Stokes.
Bairstow’s hit was a momentary classic and good enough to leave a 153-year-old veteran like Broad in disbelief.
“I did not expect to see what I saw from Jonny. It was the most outrageous time I have seen in Test Cricket from a collaboration. It was just fascinating, amazing.
“This impressive … only a few players in the world can do that. Jonny is obviously in this group.”
