England captain Harry Brook has backed under-fire head coach Brendan McCullum to keep his job, insisting he would give him a “125%” vote of confidence if asked by ECB chiefs.
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Brook commented on this at the following post-match press conference England’s semi-final defeat by India in the T20 World Cupwith McCullum’s future dominating the agenda in England cricket in the coming weeks.
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England’s T20 World Cup campaign was a tournament of two halves. They struggled badly in the early stages, narrowly losing to Nepal before suffering a defeat to the West Indies that left their hopes hanging in the balance. Few would have predicted at the time that they would advance to the semi-finals. But they found their footing at the right time and put together the results they needed to reach the last four.
The promotion of Brook to number three was a key moment in this turnaround. The captain scored a commanding century against Pakistan in the Super 8s, giving England the platform and confidence to push deep into the tournament. Jacob Bethell then produced a stunning hundred in the semi-final against India, but England fell short by seven runs to reach the final in a tense and tight contest.
The the departure brought McCullum’s future back into sharp focus. His position has already been called into question following England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, raising doubts about whether he remains the right man to lead the side forward. These questions have not gone away despite England’s superior performance in this tournament.
But Brook clearly defended himself at the post-match press conference.
“The way he talks to everybody, the way he has an aura in the locker room, everybody looks up to him,” Brook said. “The things he’s done in the four years he’s taken over have changed English cricket for hopefully the best.”
Asked directly what he would tell ECB chiefs about McCullum’s future, Brook didn’t hesitate.
“125%,” he said.
Brook’s support carries real weight given his position as captain. But with no major trophy to be won for four years in charge, the ECB will have the final say on McCullum’s future.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
March 6, 2026 12:36 PM IST
