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Brendon McCullum confirms Ben Stokes will captain England against New Zealand

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 21, 2026, 8:11 PM

Last updated Jun 21, 2026

Brendon McCullum confirms Ben Stokes will captain England against New Zealand

Summary

England's head coach Brendon McCullum announced that Ben Stokes will captain the team in the upcoming third Test against New Zealand in Nottingham. Stokes returns after missing the second Test, where England suffered a 253-run defeat at The Oval, due to a disciplinary issue involving a curfew breach. McCullum praised Stokes for his performance with Durham, where he scored 95 runs, and downplayed concerns about tensions between the two. The team aims to rebound in the series decider, with McCullum expressing optimism about Stokes's return to form.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Stokes missed the second Test due to a curfew breach.
•McCullum confirmed Stokes will return as captain.
•England lost the second Test by 253 runs.
•Stokes scored 95 runs for Durham before his return.
•The third Test is set to take place in Nottingham.

Latest Updates

8:11 PMYahoo Sports — 'Ben Stokes will be captain': Head coach Brendon McCullum gives massive update after England's 253-run defeat to New Zealand

What they're saying

"
England captain Ben Stokes will return for the third Test against New Zealand despite an ongoing disciplinary investigation over a curfew breach. Coach Brendon McCullum confirmed Stokes will lead the side after impressing with Durham. Gus Atkinson is also in line for a comeback. McCullum dismissed talk of tensions, insisting there remains mutual respect between him and Stokes.
— Yahoo Sports

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