Brendon McCullum has hailed Ben Stokes ’ retirement from ODI cricket as a noble and positive decision that will pay off for the Test side.
As Test coach it should come as no surprise that McCullum is delighted with Stokes’ move to call time on his 50-over commitments. It will not only ease some of the pressure on his body from a physical point of view, but also give him the chance to devote more time and energy to his Test team.
After such a successful start to the ‘Bazball’ revolution with four wins from four, the idea that Stokes might be able to crank things up even further is one that has McCullum purring all the way back in New Zealand where he is currently having a break from the English summer.
"Yeah of course I am happy about his decision," said McCullum. "I don't know if it's symbolic of where the game itself is at around the globe, but I see it as an absolute positive to be honest.
"I think it's a real mark of respect of the man that he's sort of bucking the trend of the short version of the game and actually trying to focus on what he sees as a huge task trying to get Test cricket back to the levels, or even exceed the levels, that it's had in the past. I think it's a noble play from him.
"Obviously we would've loved to see Ben Stokes playing in three forms of the game, he's an out and out superstar and we've seen what he's been able to achieve, but sometimes things have to give way and I look at it as a positive that he's going to have the time to really immerse himself in the Test side.
"Stokes is the skipper of our Test side and the job that I've seen him do with this team in a very short period of time really excites me about what he can do with this side, particularly now that he'll have more available time rather than jumping from series to series to series.
"I'm looking forward to being able to spend even more time with Stokesy trying to get this thing cranking." For now though McCullum is enjoying being back across the other side of the world and catching up with friends in the Kiwi rain.
It has given the 40-year-old a chance to reflect on the early success he has had while appreciating that there could be tougher times around the corner. With All Blacks rugby coach Ian Foster coming under serious pressure for his job following a series defeat to Ireland, McCullum is only too aware how quickly things can turn around.
"I’ve loved it, I really have," he added on NZ radio. "There will be some tough times down the road no doubt, but you’ve got to remember these good times as well and use them when the tough times arrive.
"Everyone back home has been quite nice at the moment, but then I have mainly been catching up with friends! It’s obviously tough times when you’re in the coaching world and your team, with such high expectations, isn’t quite delivering.
"I guess from my point of view, it’s a nice reminder that you never get too far in front of yourself as a coach. You don’t get too high when things are good and you don’t get too low when things aren’t."
