England’s white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum has expressed that Harry Brook’s time as Test captain will come after the talented batter, who leads England in ODIs and T20Is, was recently overlooked for England’s Test captaincy, with Joe Root being handed the reins. Root is tremendously experienced, having previously led England between 2017 and 2022. Meanwhile, following Stokes’ international retirement amid a series of appalling results, Brook was being touted as a potential successor; however, management had other plans, once again bringing back Root at the helm.
"Everyone knows the affection that I have for Harry. He's a wonderful player and he's doing a fine job as white-ball leader. I think his time will come in the Test job,” McCullum told Sky Sports.
I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully growing and developing him into the leader that he can become. At some stage in the future, he will have a very important role in that capacity. But for now, Joe will do an amazing job,” McCullum said.
McCullum also backed Stephen Fleming, who has replaced him as England’s coach in red-ball format. Notably, McCullum was sacked as England Test coach after the side's series defeat against New Zealand at home in June earlier this year.
"I had a great time in my four years but now it's going in a different direction, I think Flem will be excellent. He's a little bit like me, but better – that's how I would sum him up. He'll do a great job, and the ECB have done incredibly well to get someone like him to commit to English cricket for the period that he has. It's an outstanding achievement,” McCullum said.