Mccullum Insists England ‘not A Loose Ship’ But Brook Has ‘work To Do’ Off The Field

Brendon McCullum insists he is not moving a “loose ship” arsenic England’s caput coach and, while praising Harry Brook’s on-field leadership, believes nan white-ball skipper has “work to do disconnected nan field”.

McCullum was speaking to nan media for nan first clip since nan news emerged of Brook’s conflict pinch a nightclub bouncer connected nan eve of nan 3rd one-day world against New Zealand past year. Brook initially told nan property that nary teammates were pinch him during nan incident earlier it was reported that Josh Tongue and Jacob Bethell had besides been fined by nan England and Wales Cricket Board.

Brook subsequently released a statement past week admitting nan beingness of others connected nan night. An eventful circuit of Sri Lanka for nan 26-year-old – who struck a series-winning period successful nan 3rd ODI – concluded connected Wednesday pinch England’s 12-run triumph successful nan last Twenty20.

“Harry Brook is an outstanding leader connected nan field,” said McCullum. “I deliberation his tactical acumen is arsenic bully arsenic I’ve seen successful a short play of clip for a young man. He has activity to do disconnected nan field, nary doubt, arsenic do immoderate of nan different young lads we person successful our broadside and that’s what happens erstwhile you travel successful astatine 20 and it’s your formative years and you’re increasing up connected a world shape pinch spotlight, fame, luck and unit that comes pinch it.

“Obviously erstwhile we’re made alert of things that haven’t gone correct we subject and we person a stern connection and we effort and woody pinch things internally. I don’t deliberation we request to merchandise each of those findings each clip thing arises to nan media. We consciousness for illustration we woody pinch them and we’ve dealt pinch nan processes of nan past small while, I thought, beautiful well.”

McCullum said he was made alert of nan “full story” – that Brook was among teammates – during nan ODI astatine Wellington successful November. “The boys person made a mistake. They’re not nan first ones that person ever done it. They won’t beryllium nan past ones that will ever do it. They’ve put their manus up. They’ve been disciplined. They’ve been dealt with. The process was done internally astatine nan ECB which we were each a portion of.

“The boys were nether nary uncertain position of really we felt astir it but now our occupation is to support them. To beryllium honest, I find it rather annoying that we support going connected and connected astir it because these are young men who are nether immense unit and they’ve put their manus up for thing they’ve been disciplined for and piling onto them is not adjuvant for anyone.”

The incident successful New Zealand was followed by scrutiny complete England’s drinking during nan Ashes, pinch a peculiar attraction connected their mid-series break successful Noosa. “Noosa is wherever group spell to retire; location was a logic why we chose Noosa,” said McCullum, erstwhile asked astir his players’ behaviour successful Australia. “It’s being made retired arsenic this large stag-do place. It couldn’t beryllium further from that.

“You were trying to bring a squad together, to beryllium capable to guarantee that they stay ace tight arsenic a group nether nan sternest of examinations retired successful Australia. They didn’t spell overboard astatine immoderate stage, successful my opinion. To my knowledge, they didn’t spell overboard.”

Nonetheless, Brook confirmed past period that a midnight curfew had been introduced for nan white-ball circuit of Sri Lanka. When it was put to nan caput coach that this sounded for illustration an “un-Brendon McCullum” move, he replied: “If you spell backmost to nan time that I walked into nan occupation nan first point I said to these boys is don’t do thing that lands you connected nan beforehand page of nan insubstantial and thing ever bully happens aft midnight.

“I’m not against making judge that these boys are controlled successful a manner. It’s not micromanagement. It’s looking aft them to guarantee they don’t make mistakes. The misconception retired location is that I tally this loose vessel wherever I want everyone retired connected nan piss each nan clip having a awesome clip and don’t springiness a hoot astir cricket. It couldn’t beryllium further from nan truth.”

Amid nan attraction connected their off-field activities, McCullum and Brook’s squad excelled successful Sri Lanka, pinch a beardown mentation for their T20 World Cup run that originates connected Sunday against Nepal successful Mumbai. [Tuesday night] was different superb illustration of a squad which is prepared to alteration tactically and play nan business to what was required,” McCullum said.

“To vessel 16 overs of rotation defending a debased full connected a aboveground which is having its 3rd crippled connected was what was required. The exertion and nan finance from nan group to admit that and spell each successful pinch that strategy is immensely satisfying from a coaching constituent of view.”