Both are stubborn, alpha-male characters but, with his job on the line, McCullum showed at the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India a willingness to accept changes on and off the field, which include a crackdown on drinking and a beefing up of preparation and coaching staff.
Final talks were held this week as the ECB completed its review and McCullum accepted a string of changes as well as greater oversight from his bosses at Lord’s. Ed Barney, the performance director, is to take on a bigger role within the set-up overseeing the implementation of new coaching staff as well as greater emphasis on strength and conditioning. It has been recognised that one or two players were not fit enough for the demands of Ashes cricket.
Stokes has been satisfied by the changes promised and England believe he and McCullum can take the team forward. Stokes, for his part, has to rediscover his form with the bat and prove his fitness. He will be 36 by the time the next Ashes series starts in England in 2027 and has failed to make it to the end of his past two five-Test series without suffering a serious injury. He was unable to bowl in the closing stages of the fifth Test in Sydney because of a groin injury.