Brendon McCullum insists England’s best cricket is ahead of them after ‘missed chance’ in Ashes cricket news

Brendon McCullum has declared that England’s best cricket is ahead of them as they chart a path back from Ashes devastation this summer.

In their first assignment since their 4-1 loss in Australia, England’s Test summer begins with a three-Test series against New Zealand, starting June 4 directly. Sky Sports.

McCullum’s position as head coach came under scrutiny after the disastrous Ashes campaign, but with a public vote of confidence from the ECB, he is focused on exorciseing those demons by helping England fulfill their potential.

“There are elements you know you didn’t get right (against Australia),” McCullum said. “We’re not too stubborn to admit we made a mistake.

“If there was a 100 percent right way to do it and a formula that was going to guarantee success, you would do it, but there isn’t. You try to come up with what you think is your best method.

“Obviously we’ve made a few mistakes along the way, and we’ve got to be big enough and respect that we’ve got to make some improvements. We’ll do that. That’s the benefit of time.

“The last few months have given us the ability to reflect on some areas that we need to improve on and some areas that you want to continue, you’re doing really well.

“I guess the next month will see our biggest challenge, but I’m confident that our best cricket is ahead of us for this team.”

‘a lost opportunity’

Reflecting on England’s ill-fated Ashes campaign, McCullum highlighted a number of fundamental flaws he hopes he and his team can address this summer.

“Obviously it was disappointing; it was disappointing for everybody,” he added. “It was disappointing for the team, for the guys involved, for everyone involved. It’s disappointing for all the supporters back in England, but also for those who traveled to Australia.

“It was a missed opportunity for us. I thought we went in there tough, fit, ready to go. We had a huge opportunity to have success in Australia. After three-and-a-half years of trying to do something, I thought we were ready for it.

“Unfortunately, what can happen in this game, when the pressure is at its highest and the lights are at their brightest, sometimes you’re not able to regroup and get the posture you need to execute what you want to achieve. So we came up against a very good Australian team.

“We had our chances and we’ll forever look back on that tour and say it was a missed opportunity, and obviously it hurt. But for us now it’s a matter of what we do going forward.

“How can we sharpen the set-up we’ve built over the last four years into a better side, a more resilient side when the pressure is on and a more dominant side when you get the chance.”

England’s Upcoming Test Cricket Schedule

Home of New Zealand – June

• First Test (Thursday June 4-Monday June 8) – Lord’s, London (11am)
• Second Test (Wednesday June 17-Sunday June 21) – Kia Oval, London (11am)
• Third Test (Thursday 25 June-Monday 29 June) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (11am)

Home to Pakistan – August and September

• First Test (Wednesday 19 August-Sunday 23 August) – Headingley, Leeds (11am)
• Second Test (Thursday 27 August – Monday 31 August) – Lord’s, London (11am)
• Third Test (Wednesday September 9-Sunday September 13) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)

Away to South Africa – December and January

• First Test (Tuesday 17 December – Saturday 21 December) – Wanderers, Johannesburg
• Second Test (Thursday 26 December – Monday 30 December) – Supersport Park, Centurion
• Third Test (Sunday 3 January-Thursday 7 January) – Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town

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