Top cricketers who shined as players but failed as coaches
Let us take a look at three cricketing greats who shone as players but failed to leave a lasting impact as coaches.
2. Brendon McCullum
Former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum played a pivotal role in the Black Caps team, scoring over 6,000 runs in both ODIs and Tests. Under his leadership, New Zealand reached their first-ever World Cup final in 2015 and remained undefeated in 13 consecutive home Tests. He also became the first player to feature in 100 consecutive Tests for New Zealand from his debut.
In 2022, McCullum took on the role of England’s head coach, bringing a fearless and aggressive approach that led to the rise of ‘Bazball’, a bold style of cricket focused on attacking play. While England enjoyed several Test victories under his guidance, his lack of a backup plan occasionally caused setbacks for the team. Despite his influence, England has yet to reach a World Test Championship (WTC) final, a lingering downfall on his coaching record, and has not seen the kind of success he saw in playing the game.
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