Not Jos Buttler! Alastair Cook attacks and blames Brendon McCullum for England's CT disaster

Former England National Cricket Team player Alastair Cook wasn't happy with Brendon McCullum's coaching style during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He pointed out the new relaxed approach, highlighting that everything depends on preparations.

England National Cricket Team head coach Brendon McCullum has come under massive scanner following the team's poor campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. His first major event as a white-ball coach didn't go well as the Jos Buttler-led side looked terrible in the tournament.

McCullum, who took over white-ball coaching of the England team in January this year, had the worst possible start to his stint. He failed to replicate his success as a red-ball coach in white-ball cricket, following which his place came under scanner after just two assignments.

England failed to win a single game in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 under Brendon McCullum as a head coach

Under McCullum, the England National Cricket Team went on to lose the T20I series against India by the margin of 4-1 and faced a whitewash in the ODI series. It was expected that they would come up with a fight in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 but that wasn't the case.

England failed to win a single game in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, losing to Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa. With the team struggling, former players have raised concerns going ahead, especially with the coaching style of Brendon McCullum.

I am not sure how much I would have enjoyed that relaxedness - Alastair Cook on Brendon McCullum's coaching style following ICC Champions Trophy 2025 debacle

One of the critics of Brendon McCullum was Alastair Cook. England great wasn't convinced by the coach's style of prioritizing the team atmosphere over everything else. He highlighted how, during his playing days, preparation was the key to the team's success.

"All my preparation was done leading up to it. I hit a lot of balls. I see the set-up now with Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes and it's a lot more relaxed. I am not sure how much I would have enjoyed that relaxedness," Cook said on the Load of BS on Sports podcast (via ANI)."

If you are in form hit even more balls because you do not want to waste that rhythm - Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook further stressed that in-form players should hit even more balls because one shouldn't waste that rhythm. While elaborating on his point, he said:

"I liked - I suppose with Goochy (Graeme Gooch), hit lots of balls, and if you are in form hit even more balls because you do not want to waste that rhythm. Andy Flower was constantly improving, always working."

England have faced a massive downfall in the ODI cricket. They have lost their last 10 matches, and following the loss in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, even Jos Buttler stepped down as the captain. It remains to be seen what will be the roadmap of the team in the white-ball cricket going ahead.

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