McCullum expects Stokes to be 'all in' for England

Brendon McCullum expects Ben Stokes to beryllium "all in" aft nan New Zealander extended his England statement by 2 years to return power of some nan Test and white-ball teams.

McCullum, 42, has transformed England’s Test cricket since he became caput coach 2 years agone and will harvester activity of nan limited-overs broadside from January.

Test skipper Stokes, 33, came retired of one-day world status to play successful nan 50-over World Cup past year, but has not played white-ball cricket for England since.

"He’s been unthinkable and our narration is fantastic," said McCullum.

"You ne'er cognize wherever nan game’s going globally and what benignant of opportunities will popular up for him, but I cognize really invested he is successful English cricket and really wished he is to thrust this squad forward."

Before McCullum extended his little this week, it seemed apt that he and Stokes would time off their roles astatine nan extremity of nan adjacent Ashes bid successful Australia successful nan wintertime of 2025-26.

Now McCullum will beryllium successful complaint until nan pursuing location Ashes successful nan summertime of 2027 and nan 50-over World Cup successful South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia that autumn.

His tenure will besides see nan Champions Trophy early adjacent twelvemonth and a T20 World Cup successful 2026.

In an question and reply pinch nan Telegraph connected Wednesday, Stokes said "in an perfect world" he will still beryllium Test skipper successful 2027 and it is "hard to move down" playing successful world tournaments.

Speaking earlier nan last Test against Sri Lanka astatine nan Kia Oval starting connected Friday, McCullum said: "The skipper and I haven’t spoken, but I’m assuming he’s each in. He seems for illustration that benignant of bloke.

"I conjecture we’ll spot wherever he sits. He loves large moments and large stages."

McCullum besides gave his backing to Jos Buttler, who will stay arsenic England’s white-ball skipper contempt a mediocre twelvemonth that resulted successful coach Matthew Mott leaving his post.

England, reigning world champions successful some limited-overs formats little than 12 months ago, endured an atrocious 50-over World Cup successful India, past mislaid successful nan semi-finals of nan T20 World Cup.

Buttler has often been successful a tetchy mood, which McCullum described arsenic "a small spot miserable astatine times".

"What I want from Jos is for him to bask nan adjacent fewer years," said erstwhile New Zealand skipper McCullum.

"If he was to discontinue today, he’d spell down arsenic astir apt nan top white-ball subordinate England’s ever produced.

"The opportunity for nan adjacent 3 aliases 4 years - nevertheless agelong he plays for - is conscionable to bask it. Not to protect anything. Just get nan astir retired of each those guys astir him, support stepping towards nan danger, play pinch a grin connected his look and effort to do thing which is really cool."

Given nan engaged quality of England’s schedule, McCullum confirmed he will miss immoderate bid and manus work to his adjunct coaches. He besides said location will beryllium times erstwhile he tours pinch his family, who unrecorded successful New Zealand.

England person won each 5 Tests they person played this summertime and will purpose for a six-match cleanable expanse this week.

They person not won each Tests successful a location summertime since they earned 7 wins successful 2004.

England will springiness a debut to Leicestershire left-arm gait bowler Josh Hull, contempt nan 20-year-old averaging almost 63 successful his 10 first-class matches.

At 6ft 7in, pinch nan expertise to vessel a lively gait and plaything nan ball, Hull is nan latest successful a statement of players picked by England connected their attributes and imaginable alternatively than home record.

"We request to place that region cricket and Test cricket are somewhat different games," said McCullum.

"What we are trying to execute is bringing successful immoderate of these guys who we spot arsenic unsmooth diamonds pinch incredibly precocious ceilings. We look astatine these guys and opportunity we deliberation they will beryllium good. It mightiness return clip but we deliberation they are worthy investing in.

"Josh Hull is 6ft ft heaps, bowls left-arm, ranges successful gait from 80 to 90mph, swings it not excessively dissimilar to nan likes of Jimmy Anderson. He’s 20 years of age, from bully farming stock. It’s not a immense gamble, is it?"

McCullum besides said England "don’t know" nan schedule of their 3 Tests successful Pakistan, contempt nan circuit starting successful small much than a month.

The matches successful October were owed to beryllium played successful Rawalpindi, Karachi and Multan but whitethorn beryllium moved because of refurbishment activity earlier nan Champions Trophy successful Pakistan. Abu Dhabi could big portion of nan series.

"We can’t prime a squad until we cognize wherever we’re going to play," said McCullum. "It would beryllium bully if complete nan adjacent mates of days we recovered out."