Brendon McCullum insists there will be no cotton-wool treatment for pace aces Jofra Archer and Mark Wood as England begin Ashes countdown
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Brendon McCullum has vowed that England’s pace bowlers will remain at full throttle throughout 2025 - meaning there will be no cotton-wool treatment with the Ashes in mind. Ahead of Wednesday’s opening Twenty20 match against India at Eden Gardens, the first international of a year that culminates with a bid to defeat Australia in a highly-anticipated Test series down under and one that christens his period as England’s multi-format coach, McCullum spoke with enthusiasm about the attacking armoury at his disposal.
![[England's Mark Wood (left) and Jofra Archer are two of the fastest bowlers in the world]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/18/94313577-14305855-image-a-22_1737398073033.jpg)
England arrived in India with arguably the most speed ever contained in one squad: the quickest quartet of Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse all capable of breaking the 90-mile-per-hour barrier, with supporting seamers Saqib Mahmood and Jamie Overton regularly operating in the high 80s.
![[Gus Atkinson has impressed since breaking into the England team and can also reach 90mph]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/20/18/94313579-14305855-image-a-23_1737398077736.jpg)
‘Pace is certainly an advantage. I think all the best teams that have played the game - you go back to the West Indies of the great era, as good as their fast bowlers were, they were also hostile,’ McCullum said. ‘Look at the English side of the early 2000s. the bowling line-up they had or the great Australian team around that time. Pace just adds that little bit of uncomfortableness for the opposition, and allows the chance to potentially blow teams away and get on top. We'll be looking to try and take wickets, and having that extra little bit of pace helps.
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