Brendon McCullum thinks Ben Stokes will be “sweet” for  Ashes

• Brendon McCullum is the  coach of England.
• Ben Stokes’ participation in IPL won’t jeopardize his participation in this year’s Ashes series.
• Stokes has been bothered by a knee problem for a while.

Ben Stokes‘ participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to England coach Brendon McCullum, won’t jeopardise the captain’s participation in this year’s Ashes series.

Stokes has been bothered by a knee problem for a while, and he is under pressure from some quarters to rest the joint and forgo his lucrative IPL contract with the Chennai Super Kings starting at the end of the month.

McCullum, on the other hand, stated that the all-rounder had built a career on peaking in big moments, and that the Ashes series against Australia in June and July would be no different.

“I… believe the Ashes is the script that the skipper is waiting to write, so he’ll be nice. “I don’t have any concerns,” he told reporters in Wellington after the drawn series with New Zealand ended.

“I don’t think he’s putting it in jeopardy. I am familiar with the Chennai setup because I played for that franchise, and it is excellent in terms of player care.

“He knows how to prepare for big moments. Isn’t that his life? When he returns and leads us into the Ashes campaign, he’ll have the bit between his teeth, and I think we’ll be fine.”

In order to prepare for the first Ashes test at Edgbaston, which begins on June 16, and the one-off test against Ireland at Lord’s on June 1, Stokes has already stated that he will leave the Indian Premier League early.

Since taking over early last year, McCullum and Stokes have led England to 10 wins in 12 tests, thanks to an entertaining style of play dubbed “Bazball” after the coach’s nickname.

The second loss occurred on Tuesday under the most dramatic conditions possible when New Zealand won by one run to become just the fourth team to win a test after being asked to follow on.

A simply incredible Test match.

Final day highlights as New Zealand win by just one run 👇

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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 1, 2023

McCullum, like Stokes, was unapologetic about the decision to enforce the follow on and predicted that England’s approach to the game would not change much.

“I believe tens of millions of people all over the world will have sat back and enjoyed that test match,” he added.

“Now we have the opportunity to really … turn our attention to what’s going to be a pretty amazing time in the guys’ lives – an Ashes series at home against a good Australian side.

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