“That’s how India have done it” – Michael Atherton cites Rahul Dravid’s example as Brendon McCullum becomes all-format England coach

Former England captain Michael Atherton cited Rahul Dravid and India’s example after Brendon McCullum became England’s all-format coach. McCullum took over the Test coaching baton in mid-2022 and he has done a fantastic job with the red-ball team.

Meanwhile, India’s former head coach Rahul Dravid guided the team in all three formats. However, Dravid took a few breaks in between as his former teammate VVS Laxman stepped in for him.

England’s former white-ball coach Matthew Mott stepped down after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup and the former New Zealand captain has been given the coaching reins by the ECB.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Mitchael Atherton said, “I think it’ll make the people around him very important, people like Marcus Trescothick, who’s going to be the interim coach for this Australia series at the end of the summer. He will presumably step in from time to time. That’s how India have done it. They’ve had one man doing both, Rahul Dravid, until recently, but others have stepped in from time to time to give the head coach a break.”

Atherton feels McCullum will have his work cut out due to the hectic scheduling of the England team across formats.

“I don’t doubt McCullum’s credentials at all, but the challenge will be just the extra responsibility, the extra time that it takes to plan and prepare and get a one-day team ready to play. You’re probably going to have to be doing that during a Test tour at times.”

Meanwhile, the former New Zealand opener has backed the aggressive style of play under his tutelage and the results are palpable. Atherton feels McCullum and Test skipper Ben Stokes had a spring in their step when they took over the onus.

“When Stokes and McCullum took over, there was a spring in their step, a freshness about their play and a kind of joy about the game. Key will be hoping that transmits to Buttler, who sometimes looks a bit burdened with the white ball captaincy, and he’ll be hoping that McCullum’s skills can rub off on him and make him look a little less burdened around the role.”

On the other hand, former England captain Nasser Hussain also shared his thoughts.

“So if they lose an Ashes series, you don’t want to then go into a white-ball series where McCullum is weighed down by all the external noise. Not that it seems to affect him, but it must affect everyone. He is going to have to use Trescothick and various other people.”

The third Test match between England and Sri Lanka will be played at the Kennington Oval, London from Friday onwards.