Brendon McCullum appointed England Test head coach
London, May 12: New Zealand cricket great Brendon McCullum was hired as head coach of England's Test team on Thursday in another bold appointment coming soon after the decision to select all-rounder Ben Stokes as captain.
The 40-year-old McCullum, who currently coaches Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders, has never been in charge of a Test team and only retired from playing in 2019.
He was regarded as the catalyst behind New Zealand's emergence as a major force in the Test game the Black Caps won the inaugural World Test Championship last year and his preference for attacking cricket will be welcomed by Stokes at the start of a new era for England.
"I believe in Brendon and Ben Stokes a formidable coach and captain partnership," said Rob Key, director of men's cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board. "Time for us all to buckle up and get ready for the ride."
McCullum's first series with England will be against his native New Zealand in June, with the opening test beginning June 2 at Lord's.
England has won only one of its last 17 Tests, a run that includes a humiliating 4-0 series loss in the Ashes Down Under. That sparked a rush of dismissals and resignations at one stage, England didn't have a captain, coach or head of men's cricket but the leadership roles have been filled now, with Stokes replacing Joe Root as captain and Key the replacement for Ashley Giles.
"He has a recent history of changing cricket culture and environments for the better," Key said of McCullum, "and I believe he is the person to do that for England's red-ball cricket."
McCullum takes the position previously held by Chris Silverwood, who oversaw the Test and limited-overs teams. The ECB has decided the red-ball and white-ball duties should be split going forward.
"In taking this role on, I am acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces at present," McCullum said, "and I strongly believe in my ability to help the team emerge as a stronger force once we've confronted them head-on.
"I've enjoyed several robust conversations with Rob Key about the direction of travel for the team and have found his enthusiasm contagious. I'm no stranger to bringing about change within a team environment, and I can't wait to get started."
McCullum described Stokes as "the perfect character to inspire change around him."
"I look forward to working closely with him to build a successful unit around us," McCullum said.
McCullum will travel to England after the Knight Riders complete their IPL group campaign on May 18, subject to obtaining a working visa.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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