Brendon McCullum: Enjoyment and freedom are key to on and off-field success

GEORGE DOBELL IN HAMILTON: Insiders reckon the days England spent in Mount Maunganui at the start of this tour featured some of the most intense training they had ever seen. But as McCullum explained, there is much more emphasis on fun these days

There was a time, not so long ago, when the top players had to play international cricket if they wanted to earn a decent living from the game. There was a time they had to put up with the long tours, the low-key warm-up games and the daily training sessions. It was the way things had always been.

But times have changed. Not only do players have far more earning opportunities - several of these England players will earn far more for a few weeks at the IPL than their annual central contracts can muster - but there is a prevalent view that relaxation and time away from the game is every bit as important as practice and training.

Indeed, it is somewhat ironic that, only a year ago, some were complaining about "a drinking culture" around the team, such an attitude is now seen as essential to bonding.

None of this is to suggest this England team don't work hard. Insiders reckon the days they spent in Mount Maunganui at the start of this tour featured some of the most intense training they had ever seen.

But, as Brendon McCullum explained on the second (and final) day of England's warm-up match in New Zealand, there is much more emphasis on fun these days. As he sees it, there has to be. Test cricket can no longer compete in terms of wages, so it has to appeal in terms of enjoyment, camaraderie and achievement.

^{McCullum and England captain Ben Stokes [Nathan Stirk/Getty Images]}

"There's so many options these days that you've got to make [Test cricket] enjoyable not just on the field but off the field, too," McCullum said. "You have get those guys to know when they board the plane to head overseas or jump into the car to head down to Lord's it is to join-up with the team they know they're going to have a great time.

"I think for too long, everything was based around the cricket and sometimes you forgot to enjoy yourself. It was not until the back end of my career that I though, 'aw, I can actually have a good time now'. That's when you really enjoy it and somehow you end up becoming better as well. Well, that’s the theory, anyhow. We'll see how it works out.

"The back end of my career was the most enjoyable part because of the freedom. I was a bit more comfortable. You realise you can enjoy yourself a bit more, can invest some more time with your team-mates and management and you end up with more stuff in your life. The results seem to work out okay and you have more fun."

England are certainly doing things differently on this tour. They spent the first few days of it playing golf and enjoying each other's company in Arrowtown. And, having cut the planned four-day's of practise matches in half, they are going to have the weekend off - a horse in which McCullum has a part share, Defibrillate, is running in the Grade 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes in Hamilton on Saturday; many of the players are expected to attend - before three days of optional training ahead of the first Test.

"You have one crack at life. Why would you not want to enjoy it? You choose a job you want to do and it's meant to be fun along the way"

The midnight curfew remains in place, but there is no pressure on anyone not to drink or enjoy a meal out. You suspect players who were once seen as somewhat loose - the likes of Andrew Flintoff or Steve Harmison, perhaps - would have fitted into this environment beautifully.

"We've had a great time [on this tour so far]. We stayed at the golf course. We had a lot of team time and contact time. One thing we identified is that it can just take a few days to be able to get the natural rhythm of your environment back again. So climbing straight back into cricket again can be detrimental. We like the idea that you try and get the guys together and they find their natural rhythm."

They even abandoned the first day of the pink-ball warm-up match 20 overs early just as the lights were starting to take effect. And while there was some logic in it - basically, they reasoned that if the top-order batters had another innings, it might dent their confidence - it was hard to imagine Andy Flower using the same argument.

^{England abandoned the first day of a pink-ball warm-up match early, something it's hard to imagine other coaches doing [Michael Bradley/Getty Images]}

"I think we got out what we wanted to in regards to preparation," McCullum said. "The ball's going to swing and it's going to be difficult under lights. Do you want to expose yourself to that? Do you not? Does it matter? We'll find out I suppose."

Indeed we will. But what England are attempting at present, both on and off the field, might well be unprecedented in sport. They are not only playing with an aggression that is unprecedented, but they are giving their players a freedom around their lifestyle and training schedules that is most unusual.

What it does require is trust in the players. And all the signs so far - not least the excellent results over the last few months - suggest they have bought into it wholeheartedly. Driven on by the captain, Ben Stokes, they look as fit and motivated as ever. The test will come, perhaps, if results go against them.

"That is the thinking, to be honest," McCullum said when asked if his method was designed in part to ward off the competing attractions of franchise leagues. "The results will hopefully follow. You can't guarantee that but what you can do is ensure you put some money in the bank when it comes to experiences and relationships.

"You have one crack at life. Why would you not want to enjoy it? You choose a job you want to do and it's meant to be fun along the way."

Sounds simple, doesn't it?