To hear Brendon McCullum speak so thoughtfully and sensitively about the plight of Ben Stokes, his captain, at The Oval on Monday was to witness a man who looks tailor-made to guide English cricket through its latest crisis.
It would be easy to be cynical about an England coach who most in the game, including this correspondent, still believe should have walked after last winter’s Ashes nightmare in Australia. Even the latest bout of tumult affecting the team could be blamed at the loose, unprofessional culture he has fostered during his time in charge.
Yet it was hard not to be impressed with how he carried himself when addressing the media two days out from England’s second Test against New Zealand.
So often a figure who comes across as too laidback and unserious, McCullum got the tone just right on this occasion. It was in stark contrast to the angry and frustrated mood shown by Rob Key, England’s managing director, when he spoke about “curfew-gate”, also at The Oval, last Thursday.
McCullum’s grave concern for Stokes’s wellbeing is obvious (Photo: Reuters)
