Anthony McGrath: I hope an Englishman is chosen to replace Brendon McCullum
ANTHONY MCGRATH said he hopes an Englishman gets Brendon McCullum’s job after the New Zealander was sacked as Test coach on Sunday.
The Yorkshire head coach said it would send out “a good statement” but acknowledged that England could look abroad again.
“There’s a lot of good coaches in England,” said McGrath. “People who've done a lot of years, some international stuff, too.
“It'd be great, personally, if they give it to an Englishman, because I think that's a good statement.
"But I wouldn't be surprised if they go abroad as well.”
McGrath, 50, declined to be drawn on whether he would be interested, saying the powers-that-be probably want “a big name”.
As head coach of Essex he won two County Championships and a Vitality Blast before joining Yorkshire for the start of last season, but he expressed sympathy, first and foremost, for McCullum, who will continue to lead England’s white-ball teams.
“As a coach, it’s always difficult when someone gets the sack,” said McGrath.
“Brendon put everything into it. I mean, he started just in the Test (job), and I think the dual roles are really tough with the amount of time away and the series overlapping.
“It’s a shame, but hopefully he can stay on and do a really good job with the white-ball teams.”
McCullum, 44, paid the price for a run of poor results and a lack of discipline off-the-field, highlighted by the 4-1 defeat in Australia last winter.
Initially he was a breath of fresh air, revitalising fortunes along with Ben Stokes, the former captain, as England won 11 of their first 13 Tests under the attacking philosophy known as “Bazball”.
“I think he’s polarised opinions with some pundits but it’s a tough gig,” said McGrath.
“When you’re losing the Ashes, whoever’s in charge, you're going to be under scrutiny, and I think when England have played well they've been brilliant to watch.
“It’s been edge-of-your-seat stuff and, again, people have their opinions, but he’s done it his way, which I like. He’s committed to a style of play and, when it's been good, it's been brilliant.”
McGrath continued: “Obviously, if you do play that way all the time, you're going to lose some games in a non-traditional manner, should we say, in Test cricket.
“But I've enjoyed watching his team, and I know the players like him and want to play for him.
“I think he's popular in terms of how he sets stuff up and training and things like that, so from how people speak about him, he’s going to be missed. Whoever comes in, it's going to be a tough act to follow.”
Andy Flower, the former England coach, and the ex-Australia coach Justin Langer are among the favourites to succeed McCullum.
McGrath’s fellow Yorkshiremen Richard Dawson and Gareth Batty - respectively the head coaches of Glamorgan and Surrey - are the leading English candidates in the betting.
McGrath is focusing very much on matters at hand as Yorkshire gear up for Wednesday’s Vitality Blast quarter-final against Somerset at Headingley.
The match will start at 4.30pm to avoid a clash with England’s football World Cup semi-final against Argentina (8pm kick-off), with Yorkshire’s quarter-final chosen for live television coverage.
McGrath said Yorkshire are monitoring the fitness of Moeen Ali, who has tweaked a calf muscle, and Faheem Ashraf, who has not played in the last two matches due to a hand injury.
Joe Root, who returned for those last two group games, is unavailable due to England’s one-day international series against India, but George Hill is available again after experiencing heart palpitations in the recent match against Derbyshire at Chesterfield.
McGrath confirmed that the Hundred players who have been featuring regularly - captain Jonny Bairstow, Matty Revis and Jafer Chohan - are all available and for any Finals Day appearance at the weekend too, with the Hundred beginning next Tuesday.