Brendon McCullum makes us feel 10 feet tall, it’s been a good working with him: Ben Stokes

Stokes said the New Zealander’s methods are more about providing players with a lift rather than altering their technical skills.

England will start their three-match Test series against New Zealand on the 2nd of June at Lords. Ben Stokes, who was recently given the leadership role after Joe Root vacated the position, gave his views on the impact of Brendon McCullum in the dressing room. The former New Zealand captain was appointed the head coach of the England Test team earlier last month.

McCullum’s appointment was a bit of a surprise for people as his previous stints as head coach were in franchise cricket, at Trinbago Knight Riders and Kolkata Knight Riders. Speaking of McCullum’s impact, Stokes said the New Zealander’s methods are more about providing players with a lift rather than altering their technical skills.

“He has pretty much done everything as he explained, the way he coaches,” Stokes was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz. “He hasn’t thrown one ball yet, he has lived up to that, but he has been good. It is all about making everyone feel, in his words, ’10 feet tall,’ he added.

The former Blackcaps skipper was known for his ultra-attacking batting style during his playing days, and his score of 302 is the highest score by a New Zealand player in Test cricket. “I think it is pretty obvious in the way he will speak in the dressing room, because of the way he played cricket and when he was in charge of New Zealand. It’s been a good few days working with him,” Stokes added.

There is nothing on this blank canvas, everyone is starting fresh: Ben Stokes

Ben Stokes has been England’s talisman in the last few years, and the English players will be looking up to him as they look to end their torrid run in Test matches, having won just one of their last 17 matches. The all-rounder believes that this is a fresh start for everyone, from debutants to veterans, it is a blank canvas for all of them.

“We have got so much experience in that dressing room, with myself, Joe Root, Broady, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, and at the other end we’ve younger lads with inexperience. But this is our time, we are going to dictate how things go, going forward. There is nothing on this blank canvas. Everyone is starting fresh now, whether you are Matt Potts or Stuart Broad or Jimmy Anderson,” the England captain said further.