Brendon McCullum: England’s new approach ‘a shift in the right direction’

Brendon McCullum, the captain who helped create a turnaround to usher in a reassuring era in New Zealand’s cricket, has expressed his support for the new ‘cut and thrust’ approach applied by England. After a poor outing in the World Cup early this year, England’s method of playing was critiqued as too rigid to prosper in limited-overs’ internationals, and in the following months, beginning with New Zealand’s visit, they played a free-flowing, attacking brand of cricket that provided warming results. McCullum’s own side played the same way that entertained spectators and helped their own players enjoy the outing, and he is happy with England’s move to the ‘right direction’. READ: Morgan, Taylor and Root should form middle-order for England vs Pakistan

“I’ve enjoyed England’s new cut and thrust approach. Even if it is not the finished product it is a shift in the right direction. In the past they have been fearful, regimented and disciplined. It worked on occasion but what we are seeing at the moment is different; they are freeing young players up and if you have the support of people and you back guys through rough days you will come good,” McCullum told Guardian.

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New Zealand’s tour of England was followed by Australia’s tour for The Ashes. The marquee contest was won 3-2 by the hosts, and the subsequent One-Day International (ODI) series was closely fought against the world champions, until the one-sided decider that handed the ODI contest to Australia. The positive climb will be tough to maintain in England’s next assignment, the full tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to face Pakistan. READ: Ian Bell supports appointment of Mahela Jayawardene as batting consultant for England

“It is one the toughest places to tour in world cricket,” McCullum said. “We hold that Test win in Sharjah as one of our biggest successes. To beat a strong Pakistan side in those conditions, in my mind, is one of the biggest challenges in the world right now. Some very good teams have gone there and not come away with the spoils.” Adam Lyth, the opener to partner Alastair Cook in Tests, endured a poor Ashes series, with 115 runs in nine innings at an average of 12.77. He was axed for the limited-overs’ opener Alex Hales, in the Test squad for UAE. Should England opt to have the spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali to open, and fit in the other spinner Adil Rashid at No. 8? Or have Hales opening with Cook at the top? READ: Pakistan formidable despite absence of England’s spin tormentors from last series

“I would put Moeen Ali up there for the UAE and move him down for South Africa. You can’t be too stubborn. It’s like a horse, you can’t take it around the world and expect it to run the same race. You need to be flexible with game-plans and selection. Without doubt I would open the batting with Moeen Ali. I like what they have done there with Hales, it’s definitely worth a crack,” said McCullum. “People claimed [Australia’s] David Warner was an out-and-out limited overs player and he’s turned into a Test cricketer. Does it shut the door on Lyth? No way.” READ: Sam Billings looks to cement place in England’s limited-overs’ set up

Lyth, immediately after the poor run of scores in the Tests, scored a half-century for Yorkshire against Somerset, and then scored 96 for Yorkshire against Gloucestershire. “This game is about success and failure and time out can be the greatest thing you can possibly do. Lyth could be a wonderful player but he is not the finished article yet and this time out will test him. We will see how he reacts in due course.”