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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Simon Burnton in Rawalpindi

Ben Stokes ‘hurting’ after Test series defeat in Pakistan, says Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum Ben Stokes Pakistan England
Ben Stokes at the awards ceremony after England’s defeat
Ben Stokes returned from a hamstring injury to lead England in their two defeats by Pakistan. Photograph: Anjum Naveed/AP

Brendon McCullum has backed Ben Stokes to bounce back from a disappointing tour of Pakistan, admitting the England captain is “hurting” after he returned from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the team’s one victory for their two subsequent defeats, but that he also benefits from being “a tough bugger”.

Stokes averaged just 13.25 with the bat across his four innings, and bowled 10 overs without taking a wicket, in a series that proved an individual and collective disappointment. “We all know how competitive and driven the skipper is,” said McCullum, the England head coach. “He’ll be hurting right now [and] it’s my job to make sure I’m there to support him.

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