Brendon McCullum is relishing the prospect of working alongside a "really strong leader" in new captain Ben Stokes as they prepare to launch a new era for the England Test team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
McCullum himself has only been recently appointed to the role of England Test coach, with the team on a woeful run of one win in 17 matches ahead of their series opener against his native New Zealand starting at Lord's next week.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Former Black Caps skipper McCullum is known for a bold approach that helped kickstart a revival in the fortunes of New Zealand, the reigning world Test champions, and his outlook is expected to dovetail with the attacking instincts of dynamic all-rounder Stokes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The England job is McCullum's first as a red-ball coach, a point he acknowledged to reporters at Lord's on Friday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I certainly don't coach technically," he told Sky Sports. "I understand the technique obviously but for me it's more around tactics and man-management and trying to provide the right environment for the team to try and go out there and be the best versions of themselves."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 40-year-old added: "I think with Stokesy as captain we've got a really strong leader, a 'follow me' type of captain and so I think my job will be to try and ensure that we're consistent with a lot of our messaging.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I'll look after the guys inside the environment as well and try and allow them to really grow at a speed which they might not have got to previously, so it's a big challenge."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
McCullum said an improved England side would benefit Test cricket as a whole.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think for me red-ball cricket has always been the pinnacle of the sport," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"If you look at where the game sits currently, it's probably on a bit of a downward trend and to me the nation that can really change that is England -- because of the tradition of Test cricket here in England and I guess the fan following and the support that it gets in this country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n