Credited with introducing the ultra-aggressive 'Bazball' brand of batting, England coach Brendon McCullum on Monday sprang a surprise by promising to "play very watchful style of cricket" in the limited overs series against India.
The upcoming assignment against India will be McCullum's first in white-ball cricket, having coached the Test team with plenty of success since May 2022.
"I know it's going to be a tough tour, taking on a very good Indian side, but I'm sure we'll play what I hope is a very watchful style of cricket," McCullum told reporters here.
The tour begins with the first of the five-match T20I series at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, followed by three one-day internationals.
It's brilliant, really. That's really exciting, I feel. Obviously, we knew for a couple of months this was going to play out, and it's been fantastic." The ODI series is considered a dress rehearsal for both teams before the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy, which will take place in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19.
"We'll use the next few weeks to try and hit the ground running, I'm sure there will be some times where we don't quite get it right," he said.
"But, hopefully, we will chisel away at that over the next few weeks, and we'll be in good shape come that Champions Trophy." The 43-year-old was appointed England's white-ball coach in September, taking over from Matthew Mott, and he will now split his time between Test coaching and leading the limited-overs team.
Despite the English tendency to be power-hitters, McCullum stressed the need to adapt to conditions and make the best of their resources.
"You won't win every game we play, right? We're fiercely competitive and want to be successful, but for us, the conversations in the dressing room are different. It's about getting the best out of the talent we have, gelling the guys together, and finding the right complementary skills." He acknowledged that the team has all the ingredients to succeed in India.
“We’ve got a batting lineup that’s as powerful as any in the world. We’ve got gun spinners, top fielders, and guys who bowl absolute rockets with the ball. It’s about using those strengths to entertain and maximise our chances.” England skipper Jos Buttler was part of the team’s 2019 World Cup-winning squad and led them to the T20 world title in 2022 but there has been a downward spiral since then.
He's buzzing about the group we have there and the job opportunity that comes up in front of us," added Buttler-compiler McCullum.
"He has got just good years, without a shadow of a doubt; I'm very sure over the next few seasons we shall be seeing Jos take a big laugh out at enjoying himself fully at the close end of his playing time.".
Sometimes when you get the opportunity to lead in the latter part of your career there are times when you can be desperate for success and that can create frustrations and it doesn't become quite as enjoyable.".
"If you can let yourself go with nothing to prove other than getting the best out of those around you, sometimes that can free you up even more and you can perform really strongly.".
He is completely comfortable with that. He is excited about the next few weeks. I am sure you will see him smiling on the field." Buttler won't keep McCullum further said Buttler would play as a specialist batter and not keep wickets on the tour.
I think he won't be keeping wickets in this series. He's going to catch them from the field, and I think that is really a really positive thing for us because it gives Jos the opportunity to have the last say with the bowler and to have that relationship build at their last second rather than being, you know, 22 yards away.
Read also| Rohit’s Retirement Decision Is His Own, But Selectors Have a Say Too: Manjrekar
Read also| India Open 2025: Satwik-Chirag Advance to Semis, Sindhu and Kiran George Bow Out