England head coach Brendon McCullum has urged Ben Stokes to use the fallout from his curfew breach as motivation to inspire England to a series-clinching win in the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, starting Thursday.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped for the second Test after breaking a midnight curfew during celebrations following England’s opening Test win at Lord’s. The pair was later given written warnings by the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaching “specific contractual obligations” but escaped further punishment.

England missed the duo as it slumped to a 253-run defeat at The Oval, levelling the series. Both have now been recalled.

Backing his captain, McCullum said: “Everyone that has seen Ben over the course of his captaincy and worked intimately alongside him has an immense amount of respect for him, myself included.

“One blemish doesn’t ruin all of that. It’s just a slight blip, then you move on.”

McCullum also rejected suggestions that the incident had damaged his relationship with Stokes.

“Obviously we’ve been through a lot together as a working pair in leadership positions here,” he said. “In the end, we both want what’s right and what is the best for English cricket and we’re crystal clear on the direction we want this team to take.”

England has not lost a home Test series of three matches or more since South Africa’s triumph in 2012, and defeat would intensify scrutiny on the Stokes-McCullum partnership following last year’s disappointing Ashes campaign.

McCullum, however, dismissed speculation over his own future.

“What will be, will be. When I took this job I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. You can’t whinge about it when you’re deep into it.

“There’s a stubbornness to me as well. I’m a big boy, I can get on with things.”

Spinner Shoaib Bashir and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith have also returned for the third Test.

Published on Jun 24, 2026