3 players who can replace Brendon McCullum as England's Test head coach

Brendon McCullum has been removed from his post as England Men's Test coach, marking the end of the Bazball era that once promised a revolution in Test cricket. Ben Stokes' shock international retirement and England's subsequent capitulation to a series defeat have left the ECB under pressure to not only find his replacement as Test captain but potentially rip up the entire Bazball era and start afresh.

The search for the next England Test head coach is now underway, with the 2027 Ashes looming as a critical deadline. The ECB must identify a leader who understands English cricket culture, commands respect from the dressing room, and can build a disciplined yet competitive Test unit.

The next coach will inherit a side bruised by recent failures but filled with talented batters and bowlers. England's Test ranking and world standing now depend on finding the right voice to steer the ship. The timing couldn't be tighter, with international cricket's flagship series approaching fast.

Here are three former England internationals who possess the credentials and experience to lead the nation back to Test glory:

Jonathan Trott is a former England cricketer who is the former head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team. Afghanistan's final T20 World Cup 2026 group stage game against Canada in Chennai was Trott's final game in charge, when the Rashid Khan-led side beat Pakistan and England in the ODI World Cup 2023 and qualified for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup in 2024. His tenure with Afghanistan, though mixed in recent years, demonstrated his ability to elevate a team from underdogs to genuine contenders on the world stage.

After stepping down as Afghanistan coach, Jonathan Trott expressed pride in his tenure and revealed his ambition to coach England in the future, now open to considering new opportunities following the T20 World Cup 2026. Trott said he would love to one day have the opportunity to coach a team that he holds so dear to his heart, though acknowledged there are many people who would love the job. Trott worked as a batting coach for the senior England men's team on their tour of India in 2021 and understands the modern English player mentality. His blend of coaching experience and deep ties to English cricket give him a realistic shot at the role.