Sacked McCullum holds hands up for England results

Brendon McCullum has apologised for England's results under his leadership after he was sacked as Test coach on Sunday.

England have lost seven of their past nine Tests, 19 of their past 38, and have not won a five-match series against either Australia or India in McCullum's four years in charge.

The New Zealander will remain as head coach of England's white-ball teams and has a contract until the end of the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in the autumn of 2027.

"It's a results business and, unfortunately, we weren't able to get the results we wanted and for that I'm sorry," McCullum told BBC Sport.

"India and Australia are the marquee series and if you don't win those you haven't quite been able to achieve what you wanted to. We achieved some good stuff over the four years but, fundamentally, the results didn't live up to it at the back end, hence the decision was made."

McCullum's exit is the latest twist in the unravelling of the England Test team. His sacking came two weeks after former captain Ben Stokes made a sudden announcement to retire from international cricket.

The collapse of the Bazball era began with a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia. In the aftermath, McCullum, Stokes and director of cricket Rob Key were allowed to keep their jobs.

But a 2-1 series defeat at home by New Zealand was the end firstly for Stokes, then McCullum. Key remains in his post and has been given long-term backing by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief executive Richard Gould.

"Australia, we didn't get the outcome we wanted there," said former New Zealand captain McCullum.

"Afterwards I thought we made some nice change, some good evolution, and tried to implement a few other different tactics and tweaks to the environment.

"We obviously got beat by a good New Zealand side and that heaps more pressure on the results. At some stage, someone has to be responsible for that. I'll put my hand up and will wear that."

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The latter stages of McCullum's tenure have been blighted by off-field issues. During the winter, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and Ben Duckett were all involved in late-night incidents.

After England won the first Test of the summer against New Zealand, the series was derailed by Stokes and Gus Atkinson breaking the team's midnight curfew and being present when a member of security staff was struck by a Saracens rugby player.

And McCullum accepted responsibility for what happened on and off the field.

"I was the leader of that group. I was in charge of the team culturally, in charge of the team tactically, in charge of the team results wise as well," said McCullum.

"If you don't get the results, being a results business, fundamentally you get replaced. I'm not unaccustomed to that, I've been around this game for 20-odd years and I know if you aren't getting the results, someone else needs an opportunity.

"I put my hand up for that and accept it wasn't good enough."

McCullum and Stokes have both previously denied they grew apart during the Ashes series, and McCullum said he has heard from the all-rounder since news of his departure from the Test role emerged.

"I got some nice messages from Stokesy," said McCullum. "I guess, in a romantic kind of way there's something about Stokesy and I going out together. We started it together and we go out together, and I have no problem with that."

England's search for a new Test coach is already under way, and Gould explained on Sunday a coach will be appointed before a new captain is finalised.

Gould also suggested that the captaincy would be split, perhaps hinting that white-ball captain Brook, also the Test vice-captain, would not be able to lead across all formats.

Brook and McCullum have formed a strong bond while working together with the white-ball teams, and England's T20 side have just moved to the top of the world rankings.

It raises the question as to whether that partnership will be broken up if 27-year-old Brook takes control of the Test side.

"You know my thoughts on Harry, my affection for him as a player, person and leader," said McCullum.

"He's got one of the best tactical brains I've seen in someone so relatively young. He's developing at an incredible speed as a leader. I love working with Harry and I'd love to continue to do so.