Harry Brook replaced Jos Buttler as England's white-ball captain in 2025. England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum says that Harry Brook's "time will come" as Test captain. Brook, 27, is England's white-ball leader and was Test vice-captain but was overlooked after Ben Stokes' shock retirement as batter Joe Root was reappointed, having previously led England in 64 Tests between 2017 and 2022.

McCullum, who was sacked in July after a run of bad results and off-field incidents, backed Root's captaincy while Brook prepares the white-ball side for the 50-over World Cup next year. "Everyone knows the affection that I have for Harry," McCullum told Sky Sports during London Spirit vs MI London at The Hundred. "He's a wonderful player and he's doing a fine job as white-ball leader. I think his time will come in the Test job.

"I'm looking forward to working with him and hopefully growing and developing him into the leader that he can become. At some stage in the future, he will have a very important role in that capacity. But for now, Joe will do an amazing job." Brook recently led England to a 2-1 one-day international series win over India, and has been in good form in The Hundred, striking a 15-ball fifty for Sunrisers Leeds earlier this week.

England's first Test against Pakistan starts on 19 August which will be Root's first back in charge, before Brook and McCullum will oversee three T20s and three ODIs against Sri Lanka in September. Earlier today, England's squad for the first Test was announced with Ollie Pope and Dan Lawrence recalled to the side.

Drinking culture embedded in cricket - Stokes Root in 'very different place' over Test captaincy. McCullum also gave his support for close friend Stephen Fleming, who has replaced him as Test coach. Fleming, 53, will not be in charge for the Pakistan series as Marcus Trescothick will step in, meaning his first assignment will be the tour of South Africa in December.

"I had a great time in my four years but now it's going in a different direction, I think Flem will be excellent," McCullum said. "He's a little bit like me, but better – that's how I would sum him up. He'll do a great job, and the ECB have done incredibly well to get someone like him to commit to English cricket for the period that he has. It's an outstanding achievement."

Fleming inherits a Test side that has recently struggled after a breath-taking start to the McCullum and Stokes era. McCullum won 10 out of 12 Tests in his first year in charge but since then, England have lost 18 and won 17 of 37. The duo will have to negotiate an increasingly busy cricketing schedule, and manage the priorities of players who play all three formats, which includes Brook.

"We talk pretty much every day, we're close mates," McCullum said of Fleming. "We've done a lot together and he's one of those guys who I trust completely. We both just want what's best for English cricket. We want to set this up so that English cricket can be successful across all three formats of the game.

"That is going to take some give and take at times, we both understand that, but we will work very closely together and give everyone the best opportunity to get the success that we all want to see."

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