Ben Stokes returned to the England set-up on Tuesday following talks with Brendon McCullum before training. The past fortnight, McCullum said afterwards, was essentially a “blip” and they are still “very aligned” before a third Test against New Zealand that could decide the future of their working relationship.
The fact that the head coach and captain felt the need to clear the air before nets shows how much the temperature had risen around this England team. Stokes, Gus Atkinson, and the late night after Lord’s that led to them being stood down before the 253-run defeat at the Oval, has put the leadership under pressure.
