Brendon McCullum is being tipped to succeed in arguably the biggest job in world cricket, with former Blackcap turned commentator Simon Doull confident the ex-Kiwi captain has what it takes to turn his new team around.
McCullum, 40, was on Friday (NZ time) confirmed to take over as England's test coach, as the team splits its coaching roles into separate red and white ball programmes.
The move is somewhat left field from England, given McCullum has no experience coaching in red ball cricket despite an impressive CV in the shorter formats.
But after England's recent white ball success came as a direct result of adopting the same approach of McCullum's Blackcaps side, the former Kiwi captain's stocks with ECB managing director Rob Key made him the outstanding candidate for the role.
McCullum takes the helm of an England side at a historic low ebb, with just one victory in their last 17 tests, and currently bottom of this cycle's World Test Championship.
Still, England's incredible resources and professional player depth have made the role too good to turn down for McCullum, with former Blackcaps bowler Simon Doull describing it as "the biggest job in the world."
"India might be considered one of the biggest jobs in the world," Doull told Newshub. "But England is right up there alongside it - biggest and toughest job.
"It's a job that I think Brendon will relish. He knows it's not going to be easy, but what better time to take over the England job [than] when they have been so bad.
"There's only one way really, the only way is up. He'll relish it. He'll get along well with the guys, he'll test them, he'll challenge them.
"From a friendship point of view, I wish him all the best - after the June series."
McCullum's first focus will be rebuilding the test side alongside new captain, Kiwi-born Ben Stokes.
But England's success as a white ball side, the reigning men's World Cup holders and second-ranked T20 team, have shown the talent is there to compete at the highest level.
Doull meanwhile added getting the best out of the current crop of players will be a challenge for the entire England set-up, not just McCullum.
"They can be a powerhouse, but they need the players around them.
"Some of the players England have tried or used, or haven't used enough of, is probably their biggest issue. That's going to be the biggest challenge for Brendon, for Ben, and for Rob Key as the head of that group.
"It's about getting the best out of some of the players. England have stifled some of their talent in the last few years.
"I don't imagine Brendon will do that at all, he'll allow that freedom. But you only get that freedom for a certain amount of time until you perform. That'll be one of the key things, trying to juggle that situation.
"I think between the two of them in particular, it is a power packed duo, they're going to be on the same trainline, they're going to be on the same track and heading in that direction."
Arguably, McCullum's biggest challenge will come off the field though, and comes in the shape of trying to win over an often hostile English press, Doull continued.
But for a man who captained New Zealand through the birth of its greatest era, Doull is confident McCullum has the tools to succeed in his new position.
"The hardest thing will be the English media, they'll be the ones he has to win over.
"If he can do that, if he can put some 'Ws' [wins] on the board, I think he'll be absolutely fine.
"Even if it doesn't work out entirely as he planned, it won't down his spirits at all. He's not that sort of character."
McCullum's first assignment as England coach comes against his former teammates, as the Blackcaps travel to the UK for a three-test series, beginning on June 2.
