Brendon McCullum Exclusive: England coach on Ben Stokes, how the team will evolve after the Ashes and new opener Emilio Gay | cricket news

Head coach Brendon McCullum says England’s Ashes thrashing has left him and Ben Stokes “crystal clear” about how they want to work together as he backed the skipper to rediscover his best form amid a possible move to No.7 in the batting order.

A difference of approach and message between McCullum and Stokes emerged during the 4–1 win over Australia in the winter, contrasting the captain’s more conservative approach with the coach’s aggression.

talking Sky Sports’ In a wide-ranging interview with Michael Atherton, McCullum explained how he hopes a “stronger” England can mix “positivity and smartness” after dropping several promising positions during the Ashes.

The home summer begins with a three-match series against New Zealand from June 4, live Sky Sports.

McCallum says: “You’re never going to agree on everything. Stokes and I have worked great together for four years and we’ve had consistently strong conversations.

“That’s because we respect each other and we both have the same vision of where we want this team to go. If anything, this last season has given us a clearer direction on how we’re going to operate as captains and coaches.

“Fundamentally, we want what’s best for this side and for all the fans who support it. It’s okay if we disagree on things sometimes. That’s life. When you set a direction, you commit and go with it.”

Stokes is batting at number 7?

Stokes – who turned 35 on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s – took 15 wickets in the Ashes but averaged just 184 runs under 20 and has scored only one Test century since June 2023.

McCullum, while speaking to the written media, suggested that the all-rounder may drop down from the No. 6 slot and now bat behind wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Asked by Atherton if the captain’s best days with the bat were behind him, McCullum said: “We’ve been having some good conversations recently about trying to rediscover that absolute brilliance in his batting.

“He still has a burning desire to perform as England captain with bat, ball and on the field. We need to unlock him, he needs to unlock himself a bit and I’m hopeful that will work.

“He’s an impact player for us, not just as captain. Batting in the middle order, bowling like him, his strength on the field, his presence as a leader. All three aspects would be good to have a shot and I’m quietly confident we’ll see that this summer.”

How will England’s style evolve?

Details of how the game style may change, He first touched on this in an in-house interview with the ECB this weekMcCullum added: “We have to be smarter when the game is on a knife edge but don’t throw away what has worked before.

“I strongly believe positive and aggressive cricket can live with smart cricket. We play a strong style but sometimes when we put ourselves in winning situations we don’t do what we need to do.

“We have to navigate those moments with the composure, poise and tactical awareness necessary to close out your games.

“I want us to be a team that people recognize for how we play but also understand that we are fiercely competitive, well-prepared, clearly talented and tactically astute.

“I’m confident that with the sharpness we’ve identified we can become a stronger team when the pressure is on, tough to beat and give ourselves the best chance in the big series, which we’ve missed.

“We have a strong ambition to achieve this.”

England have not won any of the four marquee five-Test series against Australia or India under McCullum and Stokes – drawing 2-2 at home and losing 4-1 on the road.

‘Gays have patience and have a shot – but Abhishek will be tough’

Jack Crowley’s struggles with the bat during the winter in Australia, and then the opener being dropped due to his poor start to the county season with Kent, Durham’s Emilio Gay has been paired with Ben Duckett at the top of the order at Lord’s.

Gay – who played three Twenty20 internationals for Italy last year – three of his 13 centuries in first-class cricket have come under 40 this campaign.

McCullum said of Gay, while adding that Crawley and fellow dropped batter Ollie Pope were young enough to “come back” as England players: “Really nice all-round game from Emilio.

“He’s very sure of how he wants to play at this level and that’s encouraging. He’s got the patience and the shots. It’s about picking them at the right time.

“It’s going to be tough: opening the batting against New Zealand with their skills, especially with the new ball.

“Climbing those stairs at Lord’s and walking, hearing the buzz, it makes your body feel funny. How are you able to manage that and still focus on keeping your game simple enough that you’re able to react in the moment.

“The message is you don’t need any more shots. Play your game and I’ll try and help you manage the jump in expectations. If he can do that, he’s got a great chance.”

McCullum has spent much of the early part of the County season in his native New Zealand and on whether he should have attended Atherton, he added: “You’re always on the phone, talking, busy. I don’t think I need to stand on the boundary rope.

“I see. I feel like I have a reasonable idea of ​​what’s going on. You’re never going to cover everything but I don’t think anyone can. I don’t think that’s realistic.

“We are very fortunate to have a wide and vast amount of people who can assist us and make sure we identify every single player.

“I’m confident in the system we have. I’m confident we’ve built a good squad.”

England squad for first Test against New Zealand: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Ryu, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

Watch the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord’s, live Sky Sports Cricket And main event Thursday from 10am (11am first ball). Didn’t get the sky? Get Sky Sports or Stream with NOW.