'Brendon McCullum and I are the right people to carry on': Ben Stokes

England skipper Ben Stokes has powerfully backed caput manager Brendon McCullum up of the last Test of the Ashes 2025–26 astatine the Sydney Cricket Ground. Even though England person already mislaid the series, Stokes made it wide that helium inactive believes successful McCullum and feels their concern is precise important for the team’s future.Stokes said helium has nary doubts astir wanting McCullum to proceed arsenic England’s caput coach. At the aforesaid time, helium accepted that losing the Ashes means some of them indispensable instrumentality a hard look astatine what has gone incorrect and find ways to amended the team.

Speaking earlier the Sydney Test, Stokes said, "There is nary uncertainty successful my caput that Brendon and I are the close radical to transportation connected doing this for the adjacent future. I person thoroughly enjoyed the clip I person worked with Brendon.

I cannot spot determination being idiosyncratic other who I could instrumentality this squad with from wherever we are present to adjacent bigger heights."He added that the work lies with some the skipper and the manager to rise the team’s level. "So for america arsenic skipper and coach, erstwhile we bash person the clip off, we request to enactment our heads unneurotic and go, What is it that we deliberation we request to bash to spell to the adjacent level?’’ Stokes said.Brendon McCullum took complaint of England’s men’s Test squad successful May 2022.

His assignment marked the opening of the assertive and affirmative benignant of play known arsenic “Bazball.” The attack brought speedy success, and successful 2024, McCullum was named England’s all-format coach. He officially began handling some Test and white-ball teams successful January 2025.Under Stokes and McCullum, England made a beardown start. They won 10 of their archetypal 11 Test matches together, which raised expectations. However, results person been inconsistent since then. In their past 34 Tests, England person won 16 and mislaid 16, with 2 matches ending successful draws. They person besides failed to triumph a large five-Test bid against accepted rivals Australia oregon India.In the ongoing Ashes series, England are trailing Australia 3-1. While the trophy is already retired of reach, England volition beryllium keen to decorativeness the circuit connected a affirmative note. The last Test begins connected January 4 astatine the Sydney Cricket Ground, wherever Stokes and his squad volition beryllium aiming for a victory.