“Sometimes when you lose you get a period of reflection and what we’ve seen is a team which has bounced back with a bit more of a harder feel to it,” McCullum said. “I’m really pleased with the overall outcome of the series. West Indies have got a very good bowling line-up in my opinion, and I thought the way we countered that with our batting and our approach was exceptional.
“Whilst it reads 3-0 on the scoreboard and it was over in 10 days, there were certain periods right throughout the series where we felt the game could have gone either way. But we were able to stand up in those moments which is really pleasing.”
“Coming into the series we knew we need to make a couple of improvements to continue to improve as a side,” McCullum said. “We brought in some new faces and some guys that have shown that they’re very comfortable at international level, and until you give some people opportunity, you don’t know right?
“What we’ve seen from Gus Atkinson, from Shoaib Bashir and Jamie Smith – these guys have shown that international cricket is where they belong and they’ve performed accordingly. It’s really satisfying from that point of view, but also the growth of the side in general.”
That’s not to say that the transition from old to new was quite as smooth as the instant results would have you believe, however.
“I mean no changes ever are, are they?” McCullum said, acknowledging the awkwardness of the conversations that had been required to bring through the new blood. “Keep in mind that the guys who have been in there before did a really good job for us. It’s certainly no slight on them, but we felt that we needed to introduce some new guys, and guys with skill-sets which would complement the rest of the guys in our line-up.
“We opted for that and you hope they go well, and you don’t ask for instant gratification when it comes to those. But the way the series played out, you’d say the guys have performed and certainly shown they’re good enough at this level.”
Anderson and England will decide on making his gig full-time at the end of the summer. For now, McCullum could not be happier with having access to the mind and skills of a bowler who finished on 704 Test wickets three weeks ago.
“Sometimes when you’re a player you don’t always give everything to everyone else, because you’re worried about your own performance. But the information he’s (Anderson’s) been able to pass on and the way he’s fitted seamlessly into our group of coaches, we’re so lucky to call upon that resource and the person he is.
“It’s never easy but Jimmy seems really content right now, It’s great to have him and I feel very lucky that he’s part of our group.”
The Australian has come under fire after two unsuccessful World Cup campaigns in both white-ball formats over the last nine months, and met with men’s managing director Rob Key on Sunday as part of an ongoing review into the set-up. Reports suggest Mott is set to be let go, with Jos Buttler to stay on as captain.
“Motty is a good bloke and a very good coach,” McCullum said. “It is what it is, right? I don’t know how it’s going to work out to be honest, I haven’t really followed it. You’re worried about doing your own job. He’s a great bloke and whatever happens, he’ll be fine.”
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
