England head coach Brendon McCullum insists there has been no breakdown in his relationship with returning captain Ben Stokes, declaring “it’s nice to have the band back together”.
Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson resumed training with their team-mates at Trent Bridge on Tuesday afternoon, ending a two-week exile that saw them miss the series-levelling defeat at the Kia Oval.
The pair were stood down following an incident at a London nightclub in the early hours of June 8, though they were largely cleared in two subsequent investigations.
They received a written warning from the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaking “specific contractual obligations” but had no case to answer when it came to two unprovoked attacks on Atkinson, while the Cricket Regulator ruled there was insufficient evidence against them.
McCullum declined the opportunity to publicly back his skipper while the probe took place and later raised questions over his state of mind, leading to renewed speculation over the pair’s bond after a difficult Ashes winter.
But McCullum claimed they were on the same page after a lengthy chat prior to England’s net session.
“I’ve had a good catch-up with him this morning, an hour and a bit talking, and he was outstanding,” said McCullum.
“He looks ready to go, he’s enthusiastic about the week and, obviously from our point of view, it’s nice to have the band back together.”
Asked if recent events had put a wedge between them, he added: “Not at all. We talked about that this morning. I said ‘do you know where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship over the last six months?’
“He said ‘no, I have no idea’. I said to him ‘as far I’m concerned, I consider you a good friend’.
“Obviously we’ve been through a lot together as a working pair in leadership positions here in English cricket. 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.”
