When Brendon McCullum first took over as England Test coach in May 2022, he was taken aback by the sheer number of reporters at his first media engagement at Lord’s.
For a New Zealander, whose national team is lucky to attract a handful of reporters at any given time, it was a culture shock.
McCullum has got used to the increased pressure and expectation in the two-and-a-half years since taking on the England job.
But a 2025 that includes huge Test series at home to India and away in Australia promises to be a defining year for the 43-year-old, with his position and England’s results being scrutinised like never before.
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Read MoreA new year offers new opportunities for England and McCullum. For starters, he is now head coach across all formats, having agreed to take charge of the white-ball teams as well when he agreed a contract extension to the end of 2027 last September.
Bazball has largely been a success, with the series victory in New Zealand before Christmas taking McCullum’s record as Test coach to 22 victories in 35 matches – a win rate of 63 per cent.
Yet reviving the once-dominant white-ball teams who have lost both their 50-over and T20 world titles over the past two years will be a far tougher challenge.
Combining both the Test and white-ball jobs will be difficult for McCullum on a personal level as well, with the long breaks back at home in New Zealand between Test series a thing of the past.
McCullum, a born winner, will relish the challenge. But don’t expect the turnaround of the white-ball teams to be quick. The big goal will be to ensure the 50-over side can have a realistic shot of winning the next World Cup in southern Africa in 2027. This year’s Champions Trophy will be the first step on that journey.
England’s T20 team are less of a worry. They may have had a disappointing World Cup in the Caribbean last year despite reaching the semi-finals – a performance that ultimately cost white-ball coach Matthew Mott his job.
But having won 10 of their 15 matches over the past year, the team won’t need major surgery to be in contention for next year’s [2026] T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
For this next year, though, what are England and McCullum’s biggest challenges and how are they likely to fare?
The i Paper takes a look…
McCullum’s life in the white-ball job starts with five T20s and three ODIs in India this month.
The tour will not be easy, especially as it involves travelling to eight different venues in 21 days.
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This will act as preparation for the Champions Trophy, where England play all three group games in Pakistan.
It starts with Australia in Lahore on 22 February, Afghanistan at the same venue four days later and then the final group match against South Africa in Karachi on 1 March.
At least two wins will be needed to reach the semi-finals, which will be tough considering England have won just seven of their 20 ODIs since the start of the 2023 World Cup in India.
Joe Root returns for the first time since that tournament, when England bombed out in the first round.
But although missing the injured Ben Stokes, the squad for the Champions Trophy shows already there will be a greater alignment between the Test and white-ball teams, with Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson all included.
On taking the white-ball job McCullum joked his first task would be revitalising a “miserable” Jos Buttler, the captain who oversaw England’s fall from grace alongside Mott.
Reaching the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy will be the minimum requirement for England but above that seeing whether McCullum and Buttler – close friends off the field – gel will perhaps be the most important takeaway from this tournament.
Prediction: England to go out in the group stage
England’s 4-1 series defeat in India at the start of last year was the worst result of the Bazball era.
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This summer they have a chance to atone for that and prove they are in good shape for the Ashes in Australia that follow.
India have proven tough opponents for Australia in their ongoing series Down Under despite being 2-1 down heading into the final Test.
But England, as long as they have the majority of their first-choice XI fit, should prove too strong for Rohit Sharma’s team across five Tests in English conditions.
The series starts in Leeds on 20 June and wraps up in early August, with the final four matches at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval squeezed into five weeks.
Key to England’s success will be the form of Root and Harry Brook with the bat.
Both players have been nominated this week for the International Cricket Council’s men’s cricketer of the year award.
England will also aim to get fast bowler Jofra Archer back playing Test cricket for the first time in four years in this series. All being well, expect him to come in midway through.
Prediction: England to win 3-1
The Ashes
England’s record in Australia is terrible.
Since winning their last Test in January 2011, a thumping victory in Sydney that sealed a 3-1 series triumph, they have lost 13 out of 15 Down Under, with just two draws thrown in when series were already lost.
To be competitive this time England probably need four things to happen. Root must fire, including scoring his first Test century in Australia.
Brook will need to contribute big runs in at least three of the five Tests. Captain Stokes must be fit enough to at least play some part with the ball.
And most importantly three of Wood, Archer, Carse and Atkinson must stay fit throughout the series.
The bowling attack will be key and having the ability to rotate will give the Bazballers the best chance of putting pressure on an ageing Australian team.
Despite leading India 2-1 in their current series, the Aussies have issues with their bowlers, with only Pat Cummins under the age of 35 when the Ashes start in Perth on 20 November. Mitchell Starc will be 35, Josh Hazlewood, currently out injured, will be 34, Scott Boland 36 and spinner Nathan Lyon 38.
This series will be the last hurrah for many of these Australian players, including star batter Steve Smith, who turns 36 in June.
If England can keep the majority of their bowlers fit and play at their best they not only have a chance of being competitive, there’s no reason why they can’t pull off a memorable Ashes series win that would be the ultimate justification of Bazball and McCullum.
Prediction: England win 3-2.
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