McCullum would prefer the players to enjoy their victories to date than start focusing too heavily on an Ashes campaign which is nearly six months away
Brendon McCullum does not want his England players thinking about the Ashes too much, too soon.
The Test head coach's remarkable start to his new job continued in Pakistan, where swashbuckling England - scoring at 5.5 runs per over with the bat and taking wickets for fun yet again - romped to a 3-0 series win to further emphasise their extraordinary change in fortunes since McCullum and Ben Stokes took over the leadership positions.
Naturally, talk has already begun about how his team's ultra-positive approach will work against an Australia side which thoroughly outplayed them on the way to winning the Ashes with a 4-0 series success less than a year ago.
But McCullum would prefer the players to enjoy their victories to date than start focusing too heavily on an Ashes campaign which is nearly six months away.
"From our point of view, we will have loose plans about that stuff," he said. "It is a big carrot down the line.
Brendon McCullum celebrates with Ben Stokes after victory in the third Test against Pakistan [Getty Images]
England won 3-0 in Pakistan [Getty Images]
"At the same time, I want the guys to enjoy what we have been able to achieve here. Just like the summer the message is not look too far ahead. Let's live in the here and now of what we have achieved. Let that sink it. It will take some time to sink in.
"I think it is the same with the success this team has had. We have to allow that to sink in because there will be tough challenges in time. And if you have not banked those good experiences, what have you got to call on?"
Reflecting on England's win in Pakistan, McCullum paid tribute to the captaincy of Stokes, who has now won nine of his first 10 Tests in full-time charge - a streak made all the more ridiculous by the fact the team had only won once in 17 games prior to his appointment.
"Just like the summer the message is not look too far ahead. Let's live in the here and now of what we have achieved"
"It's quite incredible," McCullum said of Stokes's impact. "Pulling strings on the field is one thing — he's constantly active, making plays and always thinking about wickets and he's so consistent with his message that he doesn't care about runs. That's one thing, but what he does off the field is quite remarkable — his man-management and general positivity is quite staggering. I thought he'd be good but he continues to exceed expectations."
"The subcontinent can be challenging when you've got security restrictions but it's been one of the best things for us. The camaraderie that's developed, the relationships and the way guys interact teaches you so much — it's been an amazing four weeks and Stokes has been leading that."
Stokes finished runner-up in the BBC's public vote for Sports Personality of the Year on Wednesday night, with only European Championship-winning footballer Beth Mead above him in the poll.
McCullum with Rehan Ahmed prior to the game in Karachi [Getty Images]
Stokes has won nine out of 10 Tests after taking over as captain from Joe Root [Getty Images]
"His ambition for this team is the reason why these guys are enjoying their cricket as much as they are," McCullum said. "What a special place to be. It should be fun, too. You only get one crack as an international cricketer. You may as well make it fun. You can’t wait until the end of your career before you sit down and say that was great. You should enjoy it now."
England have two Tests against New Zealand in February and a home clash with Ireland to come before that Ashes campaign, with several key players now left to force their way back into the side.
Stuart Broad sat out the Pakistan series on paternity leave, while Jonny Bairstow is not expected to be return from a broken leg until after the trip to New Zealand. Jofra Archer continues to up his recovery, as well, leaving Stokes and McCullum facing several tricky selection decisions over the course of 2023.
One player expected to be left out of the tour of New Zealand is Rehan Ahmed, the teenage leg-spinning allrounder who made such an impression with seven wickets on his Test debut in Karachi. Conditions in New Zealand are not typically conducive to two spinners, and Ahmed is instead being encouraged to play franchise cricket - he is listed with a low base price for the Indian Premier League auction on December 23, and could stir interest.
"He's a young kid, but he has tremendous attitude, a high ceiling in terms of skill level and a bit of X-factor. To see that at such a young age and to have done what he has done is an amazing story," McCullum said.
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