Brendon McCullum concerned for Ben Stokes’ wellbeing after England omission

England head coach Brendon McCullum has voiced concerns about the wellbeing of Ben Stokes, with the absent captain casting a long shadow over preparations for this week’s Test against New Zealand.

Stokes was left out of the squad at the Kia Oval after he and seamer Gus Atkinson breached a midnight curfew following the series opener at Lord’s, with an incident involving Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa attracting an internal investigation by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

There were suggestions that Stokes would resign or even retire in the immediate aftermath but, with no public reaction from the 35-year-old as it stands, McCullum repeatedly focused on Stokes’ welfare.

Speaking on Monday, a sombre McCullum said his duty of care came before disciplinary matters or the viability of Stokes’ reign as skipper continuing.

“When I first found out about it I was slightly bewildered, if I’m being honest. Then you go through a range of emotions. You go from being bewildered, on to angry, on to kind of gutted,” he said of the episode at a Chelsea nightspot.

“But very quickly … my overall emotion turned to worry and concern for Ben in particular. Since then it has been about how we support these guys, whilst not overlooking the fact they have not lived up to the standards we have set for ourselves.

“For me it’s very much about how we support these guys through the next stage, in particular Ben. That is very much where my mind is at, my worry for him.

“What will be will be down the line. Those decisions are not for now. The concern is making sure Ben is fine. We need to make sure we look after him, rally around him, and in time we’ll get on to those sorts of decisions.

“For me I’m just making sure I’m checking in with him. That’s where things sit at the moment.”

Asked if he was encouraged by Stokes’ appearance in training with Durham over recent days, and the word that he is ready to play for the county against Northamptonshire on Friday, McCullum took a deep breath and a seven-second pause.

“I’m worried about Ben. That’s it,” he said. “I’ll leave it at that.

“Whatever he is working through at the moment, it will be because Ben thinks that’s right for dealing with what he’s feeling at the moment. So, my concern is Ben.

“He’s very entitled to make his own decisions. I encourage him to keep doing stuff like that (playing with Durham), because it gives him some joy and some satisfaction, and that’s good.”

Stokes took a mental health break from the game in 2021, eventually returning after six months away and taking over as captain the following summer. He later reflected on his hiatus in a documentary called Ben Stokes: Phoenix from the Ashes.

He also spoke out in defence of team-mate Ben Duckett during last winter’s Ashes series, calling for “empathy” after the opener was filmed looking confused and inebriated by a fan on the mid-series break in Noosa.

The ECB has made it clear no hard decisions will be made on Stokes’ captaincy until the disciplinary process has played out. The matter has also been referred to the independent Cricket Regulator, though their process is likely to take longer.

The captain-coach relationship between Stokes and McCullum came under the spotlight during the Ashes, when their previously aligned messaging appeared to diverge. All parties denied talk of a deeper rift ahead of the international summer and the coach was keen to ensure they were still speaking regularly.

“I don’t think it’s strained at all, our lines of communication are very open,” he said.

“I care immensely for him. We keep communicating. Checking in daily. We have spoken every day since this incident has unfolded.

“There’s been a range of emotions Ben has gone through. I am not going to share those with you and that’s out of respect for our relationship, and the confidentiality of it as well.”