The spin machine is in overdrive. Brendon McCullum wants you to believe everything is fine. The England coach insists his relationship with captain Ben Stokes remains rock-solid, despite a chaotic fortnight that threatened to derail the national side.
Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson found themselves in the doghouse last week. They missed the second Test against New Zealand. Why? A late-night bender after winning the series opener at Lord’s, which apparently breached their contracts. England lost the second Test without them. Shocking, right?
Now, the bad boys are back for Thursday’s decider at Trent Bridge with the series locked at 1-1. But the peace is fragile. A report in The Daily Telegraph suggested a massive rift had opened up between Stokes and the team hierarchy. McCullum, ever the diplomat, laughed it off. He claimed the pair had a “great catchup” for over an hour on Tuesday morning.
“He looks ready to go,” McCullum muttered, trying to project unity. He talked about getting the band back together. It is classic damage control. Let’s not forget that while the investigation was active, McCullum refused to publicly back his captain. He merely offered a patronizing “I worry for him” after the nightclub escapade.
Stokes, meanwhile, did his talking on the pitch. He smashed 95 runs for Durham. Suddenly, McCullum’s tune has changed. Now the captain is “outstanding” and “fantastic.”
It is a convenient pivot. England won the first Test by 115 runs, only to get absolutely hammered by 253 runs at The Oval without their talisman. Principles are easy to hold until you start losing. Now, with the series on the line, the past is apparently forgotten.
