sports
Brendon McCullum concerned for Ben Stokes after England captain dropped
Stokes and Atkinson left out for Test over curfew breach
TL;DR
- England captain Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson have been excluded from the second Test against New Zealand due to a curfew breach.
- Head coach Brendon McCullum expressed initial bewilderment and anger, which turned into worry and concern for Stokes's wellbeing.
- McCullum stated his relationship with Stokes is not strained and they communicate daily, emphasizing support for the players.
- Stokes is training with Durham and might return for the third Test, with a decision on his captaincy deferred.
- McCullum maintains the importance of team standards and obligations, stating that breaches cannot be overlooked as they can damage team culture.