- McCullum confident Stokes is close to a batting revival
- England captain struggled in Lord’s victory over New Zealand
- New role at No. 7 could help unlock his best form
England head coach Brendon McCullum believes Ben Stokes is edging closer to rediscovering his best form with the bat despite a disappointing personal return in England’s opening Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.
The England captain managed scores of 12 and nought during the 115-run win, although challenging conditions throughout the match ensured batting was far from straightforward for either side.
While Stokes has endured a difficult run with the bat stretching back to the Ashes, McCullum insists the signs behind the scenes are encouraging and expects runs to follow in the coming weeks.
Speaking after England’s successful start to the summer, McCullum said:
“I feel like his fluency is starting to come back. It would have been great if he had been able to get instant gratification with runs in this match.
“It didn’t happen, but I’m pretty confident we’ll see some runs and output in the Tests to come.”
Stokes continues comeback after injury setbacks
Stokes has experienced an interrupted period in his career over the past year. After scoring his first Test century in two years against India at Old Trafford last summer, a shoulder injury forced him to miss the following Test. More recently, recovery from a broken cheek delayed the start of his 2025 campaign.
The Durham all-rounder has also played very little cricket outside England duty. His two County Championship appearances for Durham in May were his first county matches in almost two years and he has not featured in white-ball cricket since the 2024 season.
England coach highlights lack of match practice
McCullum believes limited match action can sometimes have an impact on a player’s natural rhythm.
Explaining his view, the England coach said:
“I’m confident with the work he’s been doing. I feel like he’s moving a lot better.
“Sometimes when you don’t play a lot of cricket and we’re all guilty of it in the pursuit of improvement, we can sometimes become rigid or robotic. That’s just what us cricketers do.”
New batting role could suit England captain
In a move designed partly to ease the demands on his body, Stokes dropped to No. 7 in the batting order for the Lord’s Test, swapping places with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
McCullum feels the role could prove highly effective for England’s skipper as the summer progresses.
Discussing Stokes’ new position in the order, he said:
“Number seven is quite a nice role for him. With his experience and cricketing nous, he’s able to operate and guide the tail quite nicely.
“Plus he’s got the raw power if need be to score if you’re eight or nine wickets down. And he’s still got the opportunity to bat with a batter, too.”
McCullum backs Ben Stokes to deliver runs soon
Despite questions surrounding his batting form, Stokes remains one of England’s most influential figures. While his batting average has dipped during his captaincy, his bowling performances have improved significantly since taking charge.
McCullum also highlighted the strong relationship he has developed with the England captain and praised Stokes’ willingness to listen to trusted voices.
The New Zealander said:
“Stokesy has conviction in what he believes. He’s very rational. He only trusts a certain amount of people, which is no bad thing in life.
“If you’re able to make valid points, then he is very rational in being able to take those on board.”
Positive signs ahead for England skipper
The England coach remains optimistic that a significant contribution with the bat is just around the corner.
Offering a positive assessment of his captain’s progress, McCullum added:
“He’s good. He’s doing some great work. I genuinely think his batting is going to get some decent positives in the next little while. I feel like he’s not too far away.”
For now, England will be satisfied with a winning start to the summer. If McCullum’s assessment proves accurate, the return of runs from their captain could provide another major boost as the season unfolds.
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