Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
After the events surrounding the defeat at The Oval, England once again pressed for their results on the pitch and managed it.
Stokes, McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key all supported Australia after the hammer.
However, England are at risk of another series loss as they sit tied 1-1 with New Zealand after two matches – they have won just two of their last nine Tests.
The series defeat against the Kiwis will be their second at home since 2014 – also a loss to New Zealand in 2021. England have not lost a home series of at least three Tests since losing to South Africa 14 years ago.
“Anyone can lead when it’s easy,” McCallum said. “The true measure of a leader or leadership group is to be able to lead when times are tough.
“I remember talking to Eoin Morgan after the 2015 World Cup, and you know how close I am to him. He came up to me and asked me: ‘What do you think I should do?’
“I said: ‘Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.’ And I think this is no different — you have to be prepared to go through some tough times knowing that if you’re able to navigate through it and hold the fort and keep your nerve, some good things are bound to come.”
McCullum again addressed England’s midnight curfew terms after admitting some “ambiguity” following the defeat at The Oval.
The curfew was introduced after several off-field controversies during the Ashes.
Although the incident involving Stokes and Atkinson happened after the end of the first Test, England said the curfew was still in place.
However, Key revealed that Atkinson claimed not to know it was on.
“It’s very well documented now, not just the curfew, but our standards around protocol and all those kinds of things.”
“Time and space to be able to enjoy yourself is important and we will always try to encourage that.
“But exaggeration is not what we’re doing and when mistakes happen you’ve got to make sure you iron them out and then we move on as a team. That’s where we’re at right now.”
