Rob Key: “If you’re going to be inspired by people, you want them to convince you that you can do something that maybe you can’t. That’s what [Ben] Stokes and Brendon [McCullum] do in particular – they give you confidence”
Rob Key has highlighted the “incredible job” Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have done in turning around the fortunes of the England Test team this summer, saying the pair have “that little bit of magic”.
Going into the summer, England had won just one of their previous 17 test matches, a run of form that saw former England men’s cricket manager Ashley Giles and head coach Chris Silverwood lose their jobs.
Key was appointed as Giles’ replacement in April and was tasked with finding a new coach and captain to run the trial team, following the resignation of Joe Root as skipper, ultimately settling on McCullum and Stokes.
Under the pair, England have won six of the seven Tests this summer, culminating in a 2-1 series victory over South Africa, playing an exhilarating and positive new brand of cricket along the way.
speaking to sky sports after England’s series-clinching nine-wicket win at The Oval, Key admitted that even he has been surprised by the change.
“When I took on this job, I thought anything that happens this year is a bonus,” Key said. “We just wanted to try to win a couple of games and see what happens from there.
“What Stokes, McCullum and those players have done, and all the support staff and coaches that have come on board, has been an incredible job.
“My point of view was always that we needed to change the mindset of our cricket. Then I went to try to find people who could do that, and they have done better than I thought anyone could be honest.”
“They have done it by simply being themselves, doing what they think and what they believe in. And they have taken everyone with them.
“I love the fact that everyone has enjoyed watching Test Cricket. It’s been fantastic.”
Further explaining the appointments of McCullum and Stokes, and the change in mindset and approach they have brought to the team, Key spoke of the “magic” of the pairing and how the skipper in particular was on “another level”.
“It was all about thinking, ‘How do you get the best out of talented people?'” Key said. “Who are the best people to get the best out of Jonny Bairstow? Players like that, who we’ve seen play and we think this guy is so good.
“We all have the same philosophy, although Stokes is on another level.
“He’s so inspiring. And the other thing that shouldn’t be underestimated is how smart he is. He hasn’t wasted a word, there’s always a reason for what he does, what he says and how he says it.”
“Whatever style of cricketer you are, there’s something for you. It’s about trying to maximize each individual and make them perform to their potential, and they’ve done that very well.”
“When you go through life, you don’t want someone telling you what you can’t do all the time. There’s no real secret to that.
“All the great people you hear from, they’re not saying ‘be careful with this’, ‘don’t play outside’, ‘don’t do this’.
“If you’re going to be inspired by people, you want them to convince you that you can do something that maybe you can’t. That’s what Stokes and Brendon in particular do: They give you confidence.”
“What you need is a little inspiration, that little bit of magic, and those two have it.”
