McCullum on learnings, selection dilemmas and Brook's captaincy after England's Lahore victory

England defeated Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 29, 2026. The Three Lions posted 386 for five, with Sri Lanka managing 331 in reply. This victory ended a six-match losing streak for England in ODI cricket in Pakistan, their first win in the country since December 2005. The streak had included three defeats at last year's Champions Trophy and three losses to open this tri-series.

Despite the win, England had already been eliminated from final contention after losing their opening three matches. Brendon McCullum, the white-ball coach, reflected on the team's performance and the broader value of the tournament experience ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. McCullum acknowledged the difficult start but emphasised the lessons gained from both setbacks and success.

"For us to have been put in some situations where we've been exposed at times and succeeded at others, it's going to put us in good stead going forwards. We're extremely disappointed and gutted to lose those first three games. Today was a good performance, showed some fight. It's good to bounce back and put in a performance like we did. We had some missed opportunity but we did some good stuff. To come out on the right side of it is satisfying," McCullum said on Sky Sports.

How did Dawson and Rashid shape England's selection debate?

Liam Dawson's four-wicket haul in an ODI for the first time during the tri-series has strengthened his case as a key spinner option for the World Cup. Adil Rashid, competing for the same role, faced challenging conditions throughout the tournament. Discussions surrounding Rashid's place have come to the fore after England struggled to take wickets in the middle overs throughout the series. McCullum outlined the selection thinking behind the squad composition and the value of having competing players.

"That's what you want, right? They are good problems for Marcus North, Rob Key, myself and Harry to have. We head to Australia in a couple of days' time and we'll learn more about ourselves. We'll always do what we think is right for the conditions. Dawson has done really well for us. If you look at all three teams, legspin hasn't played much of a role. We want to be a team who adapt to conditions and have that flexibility. Dawson is an experienced player. Unfortunately for Rash, conditions went against him," McCullum said.

What impressed McCullum about Brook's captaincy?

Harry Brook's captaincy during the tri-series impressed McCullum, who highlighted the England captain's tactical awareness and composure under pressure. Brook led the side through both defeats and the eventual victory over Sri Lanka, demonstrating leadership qualities that extended beyond tactical decisions.

"He's one of the best tactical captains I've ever come across. He's very switched on. He's got the respect of the entire dressing room. He would have learned a lot. We were behind the game when they were five down but Brooky was able to slow it down and make some plays. I can't talk highly enough of his captaincy - not just his tactics, but also his leadership. We'll sit back and assess it. We want to be a team who can challenge seriously for that World Cup in 12 months' time. We will learn from these lessons," McCullum said.

England will travel to Australia in the coming days to continue their World Cup preparation. McCullum stressed the importance of extracting lessons from the tri-series experience and building momentum ahead of the global tournament.