Brendon McCullum Unfazed By Ben Stokes Rift, Eyes Bright England Future

Brendon McCullum insists his partnership with Ben Stokes remains strong, addressing reports of disagreements.

England head coach Brendon McCullum has said that he and Ben Stokes have worked well for the last four years and they have had ‘robust’ conversations during that period, adding that it is human for two individuals to not agree on everything but that doesn’t signal a rift.

The past few months have been challenging for McCullum, after England’s 4-1 Ashes loss to Australia earlier this year. During that tour, reports surfaced suggesting that McCullum and skipper Stokes weren’t aligned in their approach and decision-making.

The scrutiny on England intensified during the tour when members of the team spent time in Noosa, a popular coastal destination in Australia, during a break between games.

“You are never going to agree on everything, right? I think Stokesy and I have worked brilliantly together for the last four years and throughout that time, we have consistently had robust conversations and that is because we are respectful to one another," McCullum said while speaking to Sky Sports.

“We both have the same vision for where we want this team to go. And if anything, all this last period has done is given us a more… a more crystal clear direction of how we are gonna operate as captain and coach and we just want what is best for this side and all those fans and all the fans that support the English cricket team," McCullum said.

“So, you know, it is OK if Stokes and I sit there and disagree on things at times. That’s life, that’s how it works. But fundamentally, you need to, when you do decide which direction you are going, you disagree and you commit and you get on with them," McCullum added.

Click here to read article