Influx of young talent such as Bethell, Atkinson and Carse leaves head coach with revived team but more big choices

As Brendon McCullum appraised 12 months of fluctuating fortunes for England’s Test side, and looked ahead to a defining year against India and Australia, it was hard not to wonder if a coach known for his gambler’s outlook had let slip a tell.

The 2-1 series victory here in New Zealand tipped England’s ledger for 2024 to nine Test wins and eight defeats, all while introducing fresh personnel into the setup and dropping the average age of the side by nearly five years. “We’re a better team than we were back then,” said McCullum.