England coach Brendon McCullum denies he is running a ‘casual operation’
Brendon McCullum has defended his record as head coach after England’s elimination from the T20 World Cup, insisting the white-ball side will “achieve some special stuff”, but only if their talent is “harnessed the right way”.The Guardian revealed on Friday that McCullum is to remain in his post despite the disappointment of a 4-1 Ashes series defeat, England’s semi-finals exit and widespread criticism of the New Zealander’s methods.The perception that the coach has fostered an environment that is more focused on golf and fun than on elite performance has been particularly damaging, but before leaving India the 44-year-old insisted that impression of his tenure was inaccurate.“It’s never been about that,” he said.“That’s a perception which is not necessarily reality.
I think there’s a perception that we run a casual operation.It couldn’t be further from the truth.We run an informal operation but the work is done, the preparation is put in place.“There’s an environment which operates in a certain way, but because you are relaxed around that doesn’t mean the work is not being done.That’s just an attitude to try and allow guys to be as free as possible to implement the skills and tactics that you’re trying to achieve.
Look, I make no apologies for running an informal, positive environment, but to call it a casual environment is not fair,”McCullum singled out Harry Brook for particular praise after his first senior tournament as captain,“I’m incredibly proud of him,He’s grown immensely in the last couple of months under difficult circumstances,” he said,“There’s a real identity to how Harry Brook’s England white-ball side is going to play.
It’s hugely encouraging because a couple of months ago you probably didn’t have that,He has done an amazing job,”On Thursday, England lost an extraordinary semi-final to India, the highest-scoring game in the tournament’s history, by seven runs,Though they reached the last four with a 100% record in the Super 8s, the tournament featured defeat by West Indies and awkward encounters with Scotland, Italy and Nepal,“You want to be a team which is hard to be beaten and I thought we were throughout the tournament,” McCullum said.
“Even though we haven’t necessarily played our perfect game, we’ve found ways to win and that’s a good sign,I’m disappointed to be out of the tournament but there’s a lot to look forward to and a lot to be proud of,“From a coaching point of view, you look at how the team’s grown over the last six weeks or so, starting in Sri Lanka with a one-day series win and then on to sweeping a good Sri Lankan side [in a three-game T20 series] in spinning conditions in their own country,Then to come here, we had some delicate moments early in the tournament in games you’re expected to win but again we found ways to win, and that’s always pleasing as a coach,“We’ve seen some guys really grow, and you look at the age of some of the guys that performed well in this tournament and what they could achieve over the coming seven or eight years, it’s pretty exciting.
You’ve got some incredible talent, and if it’s harnessed the right way then this team can achieve some special stuff in the next little while.”McCullum was appointed England’s red-ball coach in May 2022, with the white-ball job added to his portfolio in September 2024.Though the Test side have won 26 and lost 18 of their games under him, they have not won a series against either India or Australia, or reached a white-ball final.He will spend much of the next few months in his native New Zealand before England’s next outing, the first of three Tests against his homeland in early June.“During the last three and a half years that I’ve been involved in English cricket we’ve achieved some really good stuff,” he said.
“Yes, we haven’t quite managed to achieve everything we wanted, but I feel like we’ve got some room to be able to improve, and a couple of tweaks here and there and I think English cricket is in a position where over the next few years it could continue to improve and achieve exactly what it wants to achieve.”
Italy claim historic first victory over England as Borthwick’s men are rattled in Rome
Even by the Six Nations’ usual standards this has been a remarkable tournament. And to the list of stunning outcomes can now be added the biggest result in the history of Italian rugby. For the first time in 33 attempts they have beaten England at rugby union and no one could possibly claim the boys in blue did not deserve their long-awaited special day.Entering the final half hour it had seemed as though England might just leave Rome with their dignity intact. Instead, not for the first time in this championship, they were the architects of their own downfall with the momentum of the game swinging decisively after two visiting forwards, including captain Maro Itoje, were sent to the sin-bin simultaneously
Scotland 50 – 40 France: Six Nations rugby union – as it happened
What a game; here’s hoping for something as entertaining in Rome. Follow it with my colleague Dan Gallan hereHere is the full report from MurrayfieldVictorious captain, Sione Tuipulotu“Considering how this tournament started all I asked was the boys to believe, and we have put it right. I can’t thank the supporters enough for coming out to see us. We have a changing room that believes in each other; times were tough after the first round in Italy, but we’ve given ourselves a chance next week. Anything is possible, and we know the challenge Ireland is, and it makes for an awesome final week
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US win first medals of Winter Paralympics as Oksana Masters leads American one-two
Oksana Masters led a United States one-two finish in the women’s 7.5km sitting sprint on Saturday, winning gold to deliver the United States’ first medals of the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics. Masters crossed the line in 21:21.3 at Val di Fiemme, coming in 16 seconds ahead of teammate Kendall Gretsch, who took silver.Both Americans shot a perfect 10-for-10 on the range, leaving the race to be decided on the snow
Australia v India: one-off women’s cricket Test, day two – as it happened
A record-breaking century from Annabel Sutherland moved Australia to the brink of victory over India in the pink-ball Test at the Waca.Sutherland’s imperious 129 was her fourth century in only seven Tests, the most by an Australian woman and one short of the world record held by England’s Jan Brittin. It helped Australia to 323 all out in their first innings, a lead of 125. By the close India were hanging on at 105 for 6.The outstanding Sutherland received excellent support from Ellyse Perry, who broke an even more significant record during her innings of 76
Winter Paralympics: Russia flies flag with first medals since 2014 as Ukraine stage gold rush
Russian athletes have seized the chance afforded them by these Winter Paralympic Games, claiming two medals on their return from suspension. But as the action came to a close on the opening day, it was Ukraine who led the medal table.The return of Russia to international competition under their own colours has dominated headlines at Milano-Cortina. Bronze medals for two world champion Alpine skiers – Varvara Voronchikhina and Aleksei Bugaev – in events that are not their strongest will only increase the scrutiny. However, a dominant day in the Nordic events, including a clean sweep in the men’s biathlon sprint, means Ukraine’s pledge to “be strong” at these Games has begun in convincing fashion
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