England captain Ben Stokes has expressed his unwavering support for head coach Brendon McCullum ahead of the final Test of the Ashes 2025-26 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Stokes emphasized the importance of their partnership, despite the ongoing series defeat.
Stokes stated that he firmly believes in having McCullum by his side as the England head coach. However, he acknowledged that the Ashes setback necessitates a discussion between the coach and captain to address their shortcomings. “There is no doubt in my mind that Brendon and I are the right people to carry on doing this for the near future. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have worked with Brendon. I cannot see there being someone else who I could take this team with from where we are now to even bigger heights,” Stokes remarked before the Sydney Test.
He added, “So for us as captain and coach, when we do have the time off, we need to put our heads together and go, What is it that we think we need to do to go to the next level?”
Brendon McCullum took the helm of England’s men’s Test team in May 2022, first serving as the Test head coach and later assuming control of the white-ball teams in January 2025. His appointment aimed to revitalize the Test side, which led to the notable Bazball era. In 2024, he was designated as the all-format coach, officially commencing his full responsibilities in 2025.
Under Stokes and McCullum, England celebrated 10 victories in their first 11 Tests. However, their performance has diminished since that initial success, with a record of 16 wins and 16 losses in their last 34 Tests, including two draws. They’ve struggled to achieve victory in marquee five-Test series against Australia or India.
Currently, in the ongoing Ashes, England trails Australia 3-1 and is eager to conclude the series on a high note with a win in the final match, scheduled to begin on 4th January at the Sydney Cricket Ground.