Brendon McCullum says he and Ben Stokes are bemused by talk of a breakdown in their relationship as England's Test captain returns to the fold for the third Test against New Zealand.
Stokes and Gus Atkinson had been stood down for second Test at the Kia Oval - which the tourists won by 253 runs - pending investigations from the ECB and the Cricket Regulator into a breach of team protocol and an incident in a Chelsea nightclub in the aftermath of the first Test. Those investigations found no case to answer, and both allrounder and fast bowler met up with the squad in Nottingham on Monday ahead of the winner-takes-all finale.
Since news broke of Stokes and Atkinson flaunting the team's unofficial midnight curfew - the latter subsequently the victim of an unprovoked attack from Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa - the situation has taken plenty of turns, ranging from the ECB fearing Stokes was on the verge of retiring altogether to him now returning as captain for the third Test, which begins on Thursday.
One thing clear over the last fortnight is Stokes' relationship with the ECB has taken a hit. It is understood he feels they were hasty in their reaction to the curfew breach, and surprised at details appearing in the media. Much has also been made of Stokes' relationship with head coach McCullum, an offshoot of the winter's 4-1 Ashes defeat when the pair had diverged from one another around the team's approach.
They embraced ahead of training on Tuesday afternoon, a public show of unity in front of the rest of the group. McCullum revealed that he and Stokes had actually spoken earlier that morning "for an hour and a bit", relaying Stokes "looking fantastic" and "ready to go" after fearing for the captain's wellbeing last week.
"He's enthusiastic about the week," McCullum said. "Obviously from our [McCullum and Stokes] point of view, it's nice to have the band back together."
McCullum refused to share details of their discussion - "private conversations remain private, and there's an element of confidentiality there in our relationship" - but was, perhaps unsurprisingly, game to divulge that they spoke of their confusion as to what had spurred on chat of a fracturing of a bond that has been in place since the start of the 2022 summer.
"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.
"We're crystal clear on the direction we want this team to take. There are going to be times when we discuss things and debate things. We've said all the way along we've always ended up making decisions together and one will have to concede at times, and vice versa on occasions. We are good friends, we work very together.
"It's been a real privilege for me over the past four years to work in intimate detail and as a partnership alongside Ben. I look back on that fondly about how tight we were as a group and how tight we were as a pair. Anything outside of that, it's not really up to us. Ben and I are tight."
McCullum has made sure to speak to Stokes every day since the Lord's Test. The pair also exchanged messages after Stokes struck 95 playing for Durham against Northamptonshire. "He actually texted me saying have you seen the highlights? I said I had, and he said 'I'm back'. I thought he played brilliantly, with a lot of oomph."
The innings coincided with a Joe Root-led England collapsing in their second innings at The Oval on Saturday, as Matt Henry ran roughshod over a line-up with five-enforced changes. Stokes let his team down when breaking the curfew he had been party to installing, but McCullum insists his standing in the dressing room is unaffected.
"One blemish doesn't ruin all of that," said McCullum. "It's just a slight blip, then you move on. That's where we're at as a team, that's where Ben is at as well. This week is an opportunity for us all to play as one and to show everyone who supports this team just how much it means to represent this country."
Though Stokes' return gives English cricket welcome respite, anything but victory at Trent Bridge will heap pressure back on the the likes of Stokes, McCullum and managing director Rob Key after all three retained their positions following the Ashes. England's last series win came 18 months ago, against New Zealand in the winter of 2024.
As such, McCullum was unwilling to state confidently that he and Stokes would be coach and captain for the first Test against Pakistan in August.
"I've said all along, plan as if you live forever... live as if you'll die tomorrow. You won't get a different answer from me just because we're under a bit of pressure.
"What will be, will be. We're very much focused on this week and trying to get a result from the group of men we're taking out there. We want to stand there at the end of the Test match and say what an incredible effort for us to be able to beat a very good New Zealand team 2-1."