McCullum - the new Test head coach - will need to play a prominent role in nurturing young talent, reinforce the fragile top order, find a way of winning away from home, and move on from a reliance on Stuart Broad and James Anderson with the ball
Brendon McCullum says he understands the scale of the task he has inherited with England, but insists he has the experience to instigate positive change.
McCullum was formally appointed as the new head coach of the England men's Test team on Thursday, and will be charged with reversing a steep decline which has seen the side win just one of their past 17 matches.
The New Zealander will arrive in the UK prior to the first match of the summer - against the country of his birth - subject to a work visa, and has agreed a four-year contract with the ECB.
He will need to play a prominent role in nurturing young talent, reinforce the fragile top order, find a way of winning away from home, and move on from a reliance on Stuart Broad and James Anderson with the ball.
Brendon McCullum is the new head coach of the England men's Test team [Getty Images]
McCullum, who played 101 times in Tests for New Zealand, might not have been the first name of fans' lips when the role became vacant following the dismissal of Chris Silverwood after an abject Ashes tour.
But he is confident in his ability to turn things around.
"I'd like to say how pleased I am to be given this opportunity to positively contribute to England's Test cricket set-up and move the team forward into a more successful era," he said.
"I'm no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can't wait to get started"
"In taking this role on, I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present, and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we've confronted them head-on."
McCullum won through a recruitment process which featured interviews with a panel including managing director of England men's cricket Rob Key, ECB chief executive Tom Harrison, consultant Andrew Strauss, and performance director Mo Bobat.
"I've enjoyed several robust conversations with Rob Key about the direction of travel for the team and have found his enthusiasm contagious," he said.
McCullum will join forces with new Test captain Ben Stokes [Getty Images]
"I'm no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can't wait to get started."
The promise of a leadership team featuring two of the most entertaining international cricketers in recent times - with McCullum pairing up with new Test skipper Ben Stokes - is a leap into the unknown for England.
Whether the side adopts an aggressive character, which might be expected given the explosive capacity of both McCullum and Stokes on a cricket field, is yet to be seen. But McCullum is looking forward to plotting a route forward with the allrounder.
"Ben Stokes is the perfect character to inspire change around him, and I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us," he said.
Subscribe to The Cricketer for exclusive content every day: The inside track on England's Test tour with George Dobell in Pakistan, award-winning analysis, breaking news and interviews and the only place for in-depth county coverage all year round. Plus: An ad-free app experience at your fingertips. Subscribe to thecricketer.com today for just £1.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.