England are ready to "shoot for the stars" in a defining year, says Head Coach Brendon McCullum.
They rose to second in the ICC Test rankings earlier this month, their highest position since McCullum was appointed in May 2022.
After a one-off Test against Zimbabwe, starting on Thursday, they will play marquee series at home against India, including the second Test at Edgbaston from 2 July, and the Ashes in Australia.
The international white-ball summer starts at Edgbaston next Thursday (29 May) and limited tickets are still available for the day/night fixture.
“We’re not trying to pick this team up anymore,” McCullum told the BBC Radio 5 Live Cricket show. “It’s a matter of taking this team from a good team into being something English people are really proud of.
“We’re working from a position of strength but now’s the time where we shoot for the stars.”
Under McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, England have delivered often thrilling cricket and secured landmark series wins away in Pakistan and New Zealand.
However, they failed to regain the Ashes in 2023, having gone 2-0 behind against Australia before surging back to draw the series, while they were also heavily beaten in India and lost in Pakistan last year.
McCullum said he and his side wants England fans to feel an “attachment” to them, liking them both as players and their style of cricket, while also winning series.
“There’s no greater opportunity than playing in big series against the best opposition on the biggest stage under the brightest lights to be able to test that,” he added.
“He [Ben Stokes] is unbelievably driven, to push himself, to push his team-mates, to win at all costs,” he said.
“We’re very lucky to have him in the chair because he’s going to be very strong about trying to push this team to the next level.”
All eyes will shift to Trent Bridge this week as international cricket returns and McCullum said England will not underestimate Zimbabwe.
“We want to be where our feet are. This game has an amazing ability to bring you back down to earth if you don’t have the respect for the game or the respect for the opposition.
“We go into it as favourites so we need to make sure we’re rock hard fit and ready to go and make good decisions under pressure.”
England v West Indies: Last tickets left!
ODI cricket at Edgbaston is special. Don’t just take our word for it, experience it this May.
England will host West Indies in a day/night clash on Thursday 29 May (1pm start), but hurry as only the last few tickets are left including in the world-famous Eric Hollies Stand.
