New England Test coach Brendon McCullum has insisted captain Ben Stokes is the "perfect character" to help turnaround their poor run of form.
McCullum takes over an England side that has won just one of their last 17 Test matches and he is under no illusions about the difficulty of the job he has accepted. The New Zealand legend says he is "acutely aware of the significant challenges the team faces", but believes he and Stokes can "move the team forward into a more successful era".
Managing Director of England Men's Cricket Rob Key believes McCullum and Stokes will for a "formidable coach and captain partnership" and has urged supporters to "buckle up and get ready for the ride".