Getting the job done over India in a pressure game pleases McCullum

The last time England won back-to-back ODI series was nearly three years ago.

With the 27-run win over India at Lord’s on Sunday, the host took the series 2-1, its second on the bounce after having beaten Sri Lanka away earlier this year (also 2-1).

“In the last two series we have played in this format, we’ve found ourselves one nil down, and that’s a real test of your belief as a group and camaraderie,” said England coach Brendon McCullum, after the run-fest that witnessed nearly 750 runs being scored.

“When the pressure ramps up a little bit, to still be able to stay on the task, and try and play the style of cricket you want. It’s a good achievement.”

England has won only three of its last nine bilateral ODI series, and the fact that two of those have come this year — on the long road towards the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia next October — augurs well.

Beating Sri Lanka away is never easy, as India discovered in August 2024 when it tied one game and lost two in a three-match series. And a triumph over India, the World’s No. 1 ranked ODI side, is certainly another feather in England’s cap.

“We made a bit of a pivot before Sri Lanka where we decided we needed more variation across our squad,” McCullum said. “Now, we’ve got left-handers, right-handers, touch players, power-hitters, seam-bowling all-rounders, left-armers, leg-spinners, off-spinners…

“Harry [Brook], as a captain, has been brave enough to utilise these variations, and when you go to South Africa, you can get very different surfaces. We want to make sure we’ve got options.

“At the same time, we also know that it’s vital that you get results in the short term and that’s why it feels good because we were able to get across the line against an outstanding Indian side by getting the job done under quite a bit of pressure.”

With McCullum losing his Test job recently and now in charge of only the English white-ball teams, he can possibly narrow and sharpen his focus. But with England having a number of all-format players, like Brook, Jofra Archer and Jacob Bethell, he cannot quite ring-fence himself.

“Collaboratively, I think,” McCullum said when asked how resources would be shared. “Once the new [Test] coach is put in place, we’ll have a good conversation around everything. Ultimately, as long as everyone wants what’s right for English cricket, there’ll be some give and take. I look forward to those conversations when the time comes”.