If you caught the nerve-wracking encounter between England and Nepal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup T20, you probably spotted head coach Brendon McCullum at the boundary with a walkie-talkie in hand. The sight raised eyebrows among the fans – who exactly was McCullum communicating with when England fell short by just four runs in a tense penultimate over?
The two-time champions survived a a huge scare at the Wankhede Stadiumdefending 184/7 as Nepal were agonizingly behind at 180/6. Needing 10 runs from the final over, Nepal could not find a boundary as Sam Curran’s tireless yorkers sealed a narrow victory. It hasn’t been nearly as convincing a start as England would have liked and now they face West Indies struggling to find their rhythm.
Former England captain Jos Buttler shed light on McCullum’s walkie-talkie use during the pre-match press conference ahead of the West Indies clash. While McCullum may appear relaxed from the outside, Buttler was quick to point out that the former New Zealand captain is anything but.
“I think he’s had those radios for a while to be fair. But yeah, the communication from top to bottom in the group has always been really good. I think Baz can sit with his feet up and his sunglasses on and look very relaxed, but he’s as sharp a coach as I’ve ever worked with. He doesn’t miss a minute,” Buttler said.
McCullum’s attention to detailaccording to Buttler, is what sets him apart. Despite his casual demeanor, the coach is constantly analyzing, strategizing and providing information to his players in real time – something that proved crucial in the final moments against Nepal.
“He’s obviously a really successful captain, so he’s got a lot of great news and knowledge and things to pass on to all the players. And his relationship with Harry.”
Brook, I think, has been great for this team. They are a really close couple. They see the game similarly and also challenge each other,” Buttler added.
Brook led from the front against Nepal with a vital 53 off 32 balls, while Jacob Bethell announced himself on the World Cup scene with a brisk 55 on debut. But it was the bowling in the death overs – where McCullum’s real-time leadership arguably played a role – that finally got England over the line.
CRICKET ACCOMPLISHED BY OTHER SPORTS
Buttler also pointed out that McCullum’s hands-on approach reflects a wider shift in cricket – one where coaches are more actively involved in matches, similar to other sports.
“I think it’s more about cricket in general coaches are getting more involved real time in cricket. I played in the IPL in Gujarat where Ashish Nehra is very active on the boundary rope and cricket seems to be the kind of sport where we are still a bit behind, maybe in that area,” he explained.
“You look at other sports where managers and coaches – you think about rugby running messages and games like that. So maybe it’s going to come more and more in cricket.”
It’s a philosophy that is taking hold throughout the cricketing world. Real-time communication allows coaches to adjust strategies on the fly, offer tactical tweaks and keep players mentally sharp throughout the contest – just what England needed when Nepal’s Lokesh Bam threatened to get upset because his blistering 39 was not out.
BUTTLER’S DEVELOPMENTAL ROLE
After resigning as captain, Buttler had to take on a new role in the team. At first, he admits, it was not easy to step back after leading the party for so long.
“Yeah, I think as a senior player you certainly have a role to play and you’ve been in a lot of situations, you’ve seen most of them and you’ve tried to share your knowledge. As a former captain I found it quite difficult at first. You almost hold back a lot and pull back because you don’t want to feel it – you’ve been there, now you’re out,” Buttler said.
But encouragement from Brook and McCullum helped him find his voice again. “Just make sure I’m available to share knowledge if I’m encouraged by Brookie and Baz, that if you feel like there’s something to share or think you’ll help the group, don’t be shy to say it or speak up.”
Buttler’s own contribution of 26 against Nepal ended prematurely when he was caught behind by Nandan Yadav, but his experience will be crucial as England look to bounce back stronger against the West Indies.
As England prepare for their next challenge, the combination of McCullum’s sharp tactical mind, Brook’s evolving leadership and Buttler’s wealth of experience could prove to be the winning formula they need to rediscover their best form and keep their World Cup campaign on track.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 10, 2026
