Brendon McCullum was worried about Stokes after the England captain was dropped from the Test squad
England head coach Brendon McCullum has admitted he is concerned about the wellbeing of Ben Stokes after the England captain was left out of the squad for the second Test against New Zealand, stressing that supporting the star all-rounder remains the team’s priority.
Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were ruled out of the second Test at The Oval to investigate the London nightclub incident following England’s victory over New Zealand in the series opener at Lord’s. The pair broke the team’s midnight curfew to celebrate the win, with reports saying they were present when a member of England’s security staff was hit by a Saracens rugby player.
On the eve of the second Test, McCullum revealed his reaction when he first learned of the incident, describing a mixture of disappointment and concern.
“When I first heard about it, I was a bit confused to be honest,” McCullum said.
“Then you go through a range of emotions. You go from confused to angry to kind of gutted — from the progress we’ve talked about over the last six months and what we’re trying to do with the party and some of the improvements we’ve been trying to make, including the standards we want to set ourselves, to hear about that was incredibly gut-wrenching.”
But the England coach said those emotions quickly gave way to concerns, particularly about Stokes, with whom he has remained in regular contact since the incident came to light.
“Very quickly, through talking to Ben and also Gus, my overall emotions changed to concern and worry, especially about Ben,” McCullum said.
The latest episode adds another chapter to Stokes’ storied career. Widely regarded as one of England’s best cricketers, the 35-year-old has previously faced intense public scrutiny, notably following an incident in a Bristol nightclub in 2017, in which he was later cleared of affray charges. He retired from cricket in 2021 to focus on his mental well-being.
In this context, McCullum has repeatedly emphasized that supporting Stokes is more important than discussing his future as England captain.
“Our concern is with Ben, our concern is to manage this situation, to make sure that we take care of him, that he feels supported by us and in communicating with us,” he said.
“The other things will work themselves out.
England’s director of cricket Rob Key said last week that he expected Stokes to play for England again, although he did not back him to continue as captain. McCullum was similarly reluctant to speculate when asked if Stokes would return to the role.
“What will happen will be the turn. These decisions are not for now,” he said.
“It’s important that Ben is OK. We have to make sure we take care of him, rally around him and get to those decisions over time.”
Joe Root will captain England in Stokes’ absence, while Jofra Archer, Matthew Fisher and the uncapped pair of Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox have been drafted in.
McCullum also dismissed suggestions that his relationship with Stokes had been damaged by the incident.
“We have spoken every day since this incident happened,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for Ben right now, I care a lot about him and I’m doing what I can to support him.
The New Zealander insisted that team standards must be maintained, even as players are encouraged to enjoy their achievements.
“I never want to kill the joy. I think it’s vital that you celebrate your successes,” McCullum said.
“But understand that we have certain obligations and responsibilities that we have to uphold. When rules are broken, I think it’s important that you don’t overlook it. Because I think it can destroy a culture, it can destroy a party if you’re not prepared to be strong enough in those circumstances.”
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
16 Jun 2026 07:50 IST