The England vs New Zealand 2nd Test has just concluded, with the Kiwis handing a 253-run defeat to the home side and levelling the three-match series. Now the third and final Test will be the decider at Trent Bridge on 25th June. Ahead of that, Brendon McCullum provided a massive update on England captain Ben Stokes, who missed the 2nd Test.
McCullum said it is “looking like” Ben Stokes will be back as Test captain at Trent Bridge. This is a huge update from the England National Cricket Team camp, as their star all-rounder was dropped from the side alongside pace bowler Gus Atkinson due to a breach of curfew and also for an involvement in a physical altercation with a former Rugby player.
Why Ben Stokes missed out 2nd Test?
Ben Stokes had a physical fight with the former Samoa A and Samoa Under-20 captain, who stands 6 ft 5 in (1.95 m) tall. The video of which was circulated, and they also broke the team curfew by visiting the club. He was punished for breaching curfew along with Atkinson, and both were dropped, with Joe Root handed over the captaincy.
Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were allowed to play in the County Championship despite being dropped from the Test squad due to the investigation process. They both were called off from their respective camps of Durham and Surrey at the request of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). This was seen as a hope for a return.
Brendon McCullum confirms Stokes’s return
Now McCullum has sealed the deal by confirming after the conclusion of the second Test match. Ben Stokes has been an integral part of England’s Test side over the years and his captaincy has been brilliant and crucial under McCullum due to the new style of cricket named ‘Bazball’.
McCullum stated, “Yeah, at this stage that’s what we’re planning on. The rest of the squad will be out later on. Today? This afternoon, once we tell a few of the lads.”
Brendon McCullum says England are ‘anticipating’ that Ben Stokes will be back to captain England in the third Test 🔙 pic.twitter.com/0yR5rNdjMI
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 21, 2026
“But yeah, we’re anticipating it will be later on today. It’s obviously a quick turnaround, so we need to make sure we give guys that consistency message and deliver it appropriately. But we are anticipating that Ben will be back in captaincy.”
I was comfortable with the balance of the side- Brendon McCullum
Apart from that McCullum spoke about the balance of the side, “I was comfortable with the balance of the side. I was comfortable with the side we picked. We just dropped 10 catches. I don’t know how many Tests have ever been won when you drop 10 catches, but it’s nigh on impossible to be successful.”
“So, look, there was some good stuff we did. We had some opportunities. We didn’t quite grab them. But for us now, it’s a matter of knowing that we go to Trent Bridge. We won all in the series after a really good performance at Lord’s. Not such a good week here against a good New Zealand side.”