Brendon McCullum on England captain Stokes: 'I am worried about Ben'

Brendon McCullum has voiced deep concern for England captain Ben Stokes ahead of the second Test at the Oval. The England coach spoke publicly for the first time about the late-night incident following England’s first-Test win over New Zealand, which led to Stokes being left out of a Test for disciplinary reasons. Gus Atkinson was also omitted, as four changes were made to the starting XI for Lord’s. McCullum said he has spoken to Stokes daily since the incident, but declined to discuss private conversations or the specifics of the disciplinary case. Sonny Baker and Jordan Cox will debut on Wednesday as part of the shake-up.

With investigations by the England and Wales Cricket Board and a Cricket Regulator ongoing, McCullum defended Stokes’ past leadership and stressed that the immediate priority is the captain’s wellbeing. He stopped short of endorsing Stokes to continue as captain, saying decisions about the future will come in time. The Oval Test will proceed with a reconfigured squad, while questions about Stokes’s role remain unresolved. The coach praised Stokes’s four-year legacy during Bazball and emphasized support and a measured process as the team faces scrutiny.