England add Brendon McCullum to their coaching wishlist as Rob Key looks for new Test staff

England have added Brendon McCullum to their wishlist as they push on with plans to become the only current major cricket nation with split coaches.

The ECB’s new managing director of cricket, Rob Key, is understood to have approached several potential candidates over the past fortnight, with former South Africa and India coach Gary Kirsten sounded out specifically about the Test role.

McCullum, 40, is head coach of Indian Premier League side Kolkata Knight Riders and is arguably best remembered as a player for his devastating white-ball batting.

However, he also revolutionised New Zealand’s Test cricket with his attacking philosophy as captain during a career that saw him earn 101 caps, highlighting his red-ball credentials.

Key recently revealed that Eoin Morgan was among the leading figures in the game from whom he had sought counsel with regards to the kind of coaches England should be pursuing as they look to overturn a horror run of one win in 17 Tests and become double world champions in the limited-overs formats.

‘I’ve spoken to Eoin about red-ball cricket as well. Eoin is someone I would speak to about so many different things, and in terms of white-ball cricket he’s on top of all that,’ said Key.

New ECB chief Rob Key has approached several candidates over the past fortnight

Former South Africa and India coach Gary Kirsten sounded out specifically about the Test role

‘He knows what he wants and he knows a lot of the coaches around, so he is one of the first ports of call for that.’

McCullum was master of ceremonies at Morgan’s wedding and their relationship developed into a professional one when they were coach and captain respectively at Kolkata — leading them to last year’s final.

England’s new Test captain Ben Stokes was full of praise for McCullum’s enterprising style during an entertaining home series in 2015.

Simon Katich and Paul Collingwood are also in the frame, while two surprise names in former limited-overs specialists Nick Knight and Mark Alleyne will also be considered for roles.