England head coach Brendon McCullum ‘caught red-handed’ by TV cameras during Ashes Test

Brendon McCullum stole the spotlight on the first day of the fifth Ashes Test, but not for anything to do with cricket.

England enjoyed one of their better days of the series on Sunday, as Joe Root and Harry Brook put together a 154-run partnership before bad light and rain led to an early close in Sydney.

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At 3-1 down in what has been a miserable series, McCullum’s side were playing for pride with Australia securing the urn in the third Test.

And it looked as first that England were set for more gloom, as the Aussies took control in the early going with three wickets for 57 runs in the opening session.

However, the tourists fought back through Root and Brook, but it was a moment away from field which caught the eye of many.

‘Be careful on national TV’

In the 39th over, with the partnership sitting at 124, TV cameras cut to McCullum, who was sat in the dugout completing a crossword.

But he was soon caught out, as ‘Baz’ appeared to be caught flicking through the pages to the answers section at the back.

It didn’t take long for the media to pick up on this, with former Australian coach Justin Langer on commentary for Seven network.

Laughing, he said: “Hang on Baz, you gotta be careful on national TV, looking at the answers on the back.

“Come on Baz, you are better than that my friend. Caught red handed, Baz.”

McCullum’s sneaky move quickly turned into a viral moment, as fans flocked to social media to comment.

Many poked fun at him for lacking the skills to solve the crossword, and joked McCullum had needed some answers to solve England’s woes in their disastrous first three Tests.

X: @7cricket

X: @7cricket

One fan commented: “No one at the ECB gave him a cheat sheet for Perth, Brissie & Adelaide?”

Another joked McCullum had been looking for answers to his team’s struggles Down Under.

They wrote: “Where he would be looking for answers for defeat in the Ashes.”

Referring to the popular England chant, one user sarcastically said: “Same old England, always cheating.”

England progress halted

McCullum’s crossword act came just before the play was halted at the Sydney Cricket Ground due to bad light at first, and later rain.

Poor light forced umpires to check conditions late in the session, leading to an early tea break. 

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Minutes later, rain began to pour at the Sydney Cricket Ground, bringing play to a complete halt, and conditions never improved from then on.

Despite ground staff’s best efforts, play was unable to continue after tea, bringing day one of the final Test to an early end.

At the time of interruption, England were 211/3, with Brook and Root batting on 78 and 72 respectively.

Having put together an unbroken 154 runs, the duo were sharing in England’s highest partnership of the series, and they will hope to build on this stability when play resumes for day two.