England head coach Brendon McCullum insists there was no breakdown in his relationship with returning captain Ben Stokes, declaring “it’s nice to have the band back together”.
Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson resumed training with their team-mates at Trent Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, ending a two-week exile that saw them miss the series-levelling defeat on the Kia Oval.
The pair were stood down following an incident at a London nightclub within the early hours of June 8, though they were largely cleared in two subsequent investigations.
They received a written warning from the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaking “specific contractual obligations” but had no case to reply when it got here to 2 unprovoked attacks on Atkinson.
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Meanwhile, the Cricket Regulator ruled there was insufficient evidence against them.
McCullum declined the chance to publicly back his skipper while the probe took place and later raised questions over his frame of mind, resulting in renewed speculation over the pair’s bond after a difficult Ashes winter.
But McCullum claimed they were on the identical page after a lengthy chat prior to England’s net session.
“I’ve had a very good catch-up with him this morning, an hour and a bit talking, and he was outstanding,” said McCullum.
“He looks able to go, he’s passionate about the week and, obviously from our perspective, it’s nice to have the band back together.”
PICTURE: Mike Egerton/PA
Good friend
Asked if recent events had put a wedge between them, he added: “Under no circumstances. We talked about that this morning.
“I said ‘do you understand where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship during the last six months?’
“He said ‘no, I do not know’. I said to him ‘as far I’m concerned, I consider you a very good friend’.
“Obviously we’ve been through rather a lot together as a working pair in leadership positions here in English cricket.
“Ultimately, we each want what’s right and what’s the very best for English cricket and we’re crystal clear on the direction we would like this team to take.”
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