Why sacking England head coach Brendon McCullum would cost the ECB more than just money

Sports finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has warned the England and Wales Cricket Board and English cricket fans that abandoning ‘Bazball’ could set the national team back despite its failures down under in the Ashes this year.

In an interview with Grosvenor Sport, sponsors of TNT Sport’s live England cricket coverage, as the latest series against Australia draws to a close, Wilson, who is Professor of Applied Sport Finance and Head of Executive Education at UCFB, also looked at the potential costs involved to replace Brendan McCullum with Justin Langer.

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Can the England Cricket Board afford to sack Brendon McCullum?

Yes. The ECB’s revenue position is strong enough to absorb a managerial payout in the range of £4 to 6 million.

The risk is not financial but strategic though. McCullum is tied closely to the identity and renewed commercial appeal of the England Test side.

Removing him would invite scrutiny regarding stability and long-term vision.

Could the ECB replace McCullum with Justin Langer, and what would it cost?

The ECB has the resources to recruit Langer without too much difficulty from a financial point of view.

Persuading him might be another story. His contract would likely fall around £1-1.5 million per year with bonuses, and around £7-10 million across a four-year term including support staff.

The real question is cultural fit. Langer’s stricter leadership style may not align with the environment England has worked hard to build.

Does Bazball help or hurt English cricket’s commercial value?

Bazball has been a net positive for the England and Wales Cricket Board. I’d argue that it has helped drive higher stadium attendance, stronger broadcast figures and broader international interest in Test cricket.

The tactical unpredictability can attract criticism when results slip, but from a sponsorship perspective, excitement and distinctiveness are highly commercial.

It turns England into a product people make time to watch.

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