Brendon McCullum Confident of Working With Ben Stokes Upon Captain's Return
En resumen
- England head coach Brendon McCullum expects captain Ben Stokes and player Gus Atkinson to be available for the third Test against New Zealand, despite an ongoing investigation into a nightclub incident.
- McCullum stated his communication with Stokes has been consistent and their shared ambition for English cricket remains unchanged.
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Por qué importa
England captain Ben Stokes and player Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for the second Test against New Zealand pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub. This follows off-field problems during the Ashes series.
England head coach Brendon McCullum says he can work with Ben Stokes when the captain returns for the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.
Stokes and pace bowler Gus Atkinson were made unavailable for the huge second-Test defeat pending an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.
Following a 4-1 Ashes series defeat that was dogged by off-field problems, both Stokes and McCullum denied their relationship had deteriorated in Australia.
Then, following England's win in the first Test since the Ashes - against New Zealand at Lord's - Stokes broke the team's midnight curfew in celebrating the victory.
The results of the investigation are still to be confirmed, but McCullum told BBC Test Match Special he is expecting Stokes and Atkinson to be available in Nottingham, with Stokes resuming the captaincy.
On his relationship with the captain, McCullum said: "You're just trying to make sure you're very communicative right throughout."
"We all got the same ambition, which is to make English cricket a very good team and to try to achieve results on the field, and that hasn't changed."
McCullum said he has spoken to Stokes "every day" since the nightclub incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, 8 June.
The New Zealander also confirmed England director of cricket Rob Key has visited Stokes this week.
Qué observar
Perspectiva de IA — posibilidades, no hechos
Stokes and Atkinson to be available for the third Test.
Probable · En días
Preguntas abiertas
- What was the outcome of the nightclub investigation?
- Will Stokes and Atkinson face any disciplinary action?
