Ben Stokes: Brendon McCullum prepared to work with returning England Test captain going forward
England head coach Brendon McCullum says he is ready to work with Ben Stokes when the skipper returns for the third test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for the massive second Test defeat until an investigation into an incident at a London nightclub was completed.
The results of the investigation have not yet been confirmed, but McCullum confirmed that Stokes will return to his role as captain, which he has held at Nottingham since 2022.
“I will be back,” McCullum said. “He will come back and be captain.”
Following the 4-1 Ashes series defeat caused by off-field issues, both Stokes and McCullum denied their relationship had worsened in Australia.
Then, following England’s first Test win against New Zealand at Lord’s since the Ashes, Stokes broke the team’s midnight curfew to celebrate the victory.
Of his relationship with Stokes, McCullum told BBC Test Match Special: “You try to make sure you are very communicative throughout.
“We all have the same ambition – to make English cricket a very good team and try to get results on the field and that hasn’t changed.”
McCullum said he had spoken to Stokes “every day” since the nightclub incident in the early hours of Monday, June 8.
The New Zealander also confirmed England director of cricket Rob Key visited Stokes this week.
