McCullum refuses – England head coach Brendon McCullum said he felt “bewildered, angry and gutted” after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson breached a team curfew by visiting a Chelsea nightclub, and he refused to say whether the axed skipper will return to captain England.
Brendon McCullum didn’t sound like a man trying to move on quickly.
A week after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson broke the team curfew by going to a Chelsea nightclub following England’s first-Test win over New Zealand at Lord’s, the England head coach said he had been hit by a chain of emotions when the news first landed.
On the day England announced multiple changes ahead of Wednesday’s second Test against New Zealand at The Oval—including first caps for batsman Jordan Cox and fast bowler Sonny Baker, and the recall of Surrey seamer Matt Fisher—McCullum insisted his priority was simple: making sure Stokes is “fine”.
“When I first found out about it, I was slightly bewildered,” McCullum said. “You go from being bewildered. on to angry. on to gutted.” He described the moment as a jolt to the progress England had been discussing over the previous six months. “From the progress which we talked about over the last six months and what we’re trying to do with the side—to hear about this was incredibly gutting.”.
He also didn’t soften the message about curfew breaches. McCullum said breaches cannot be treated like a footnote because they can corrode the group. “When breaches happen, I think it’s important you don’t look past that,” he said. “Because to me. that can ruin a culture. that can ruin a side. if you’re not prepared to be strong enough in those circumstances.”.
The incident itself has been framed around a late visit to The Rex Rooms in west London after the midnight curfew, coming after Stokes and Atkinson were still part of the group taking a Test win at Lord’s.
England’s team for The Oval was also confirmed on the day. The England XI listed was: 1 Ben Duckett, 2 Emilio Gay, 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Harry Brook, 6 Jamie Smith, 7 Jordan Cox, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Matthew Fisher, 10 Josh Tongue, 11 Sonny Baker.
With that lineup change. the captaincy question has been hovering—yet McCullum repeatedly declined to answer whether Stokes will return as skipper. Asked if he could see a way back for Stokes as captain, McCullum replied: “Those decisions are not for now. The concern is making sure Ben is fine. We need to make sure we look after him. rally around him. and in time we’ll get on to those sorts of decisions. For me, I’m just making sure I’m checking in with him.”.
McCullum also played down suggestions that his relationship with Stokes has become strained. “I don’t think it’s strained at all,” he said. “Our lines of communication are very open. Four years together is a long time in a really punchy pressure cooker. But we’ve always had the best intentions of English cricket at the core of what we are trying to achieve. Right now. I have a lot of respect. a lot of care for Ben. and I’m doing what I can to support him.”.
The curfew breach has fed into wider discussions inside the England camp about alcohol policy. McCullum addressed comments from managing director Rob Key, who had suggested a total ban on alcohol last week. McCullum said he did not support the idea of killing enjoyment entirely. “I do believe there is a place to never want to kill the joy,” he said. “I think it is vitally important that you celebrate your successes. But I don’t believe in excess, and you need always to uphold the standards.”.
Brendon McCullum Ben Stokes Gus Atkinson England cricket The Oval New Zealand second Test curfew breach The Rex Rooms Jordan Cox Sonny Baker Matt Fisher Rob Key