Are Brendon McCullum & Ben Stokes against each other? Reports claim possible 'rift' between two

Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes had a poor time during Ashes 2025-26.

The Ashes is one of the most important tournaments in the Test cycle for England and Australia. Nevertheless, the last few series have been difficult for England, as the Aussies have given dominant performances in the last five editions. The last time the Three Lions won the Ashes was in 2015.

Since then, Australia have won three of the five series and drawn the remaining two, helping them retain the Ashes for almost a decade. At the 2025-26 Ashes, the English team suffered a one-sided 4-1 series loss on Australian soil. As soon as England lost, the fractured relationship between head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes became visible to the cricket fans.

Apart from having a rift, the two have also privately complained about each other to the board, making their relationship even more sour.

What is happening between Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes?

According to the Telegraph, tensions between the England head coach McCullum and captain Stokes have significantly risen after the 2025-26 post-Ashes review. The two are reportedly not aligned in their approaches and have expressed frustration.

Nevertheless, McCullum and Stokes eventually decided to work together and move forward. With that, the former New Zealand batter retains his job until the end of his contract. McCullum’s contract with the Three Lions will expire in October 2027 after the ICC ODI World Cup in South Africa.

England’s 4-1 loss to Australia in the Ashes was filled with off-field controversies. While Ben Stokes claimed that the Aussies have found a way to counter their aggressive BazBall approach, McCullum stated that the Englishman’s captaincy has left significant gaps, leading to England’s dismal performance in the Ashes.

According to the aforementioned report, McCullum also believes that mixed messaging leads to confusion within the team, ultimately resulting in a loss due to miscommunication. Meanwhile, Stokes criticised the coaching staff’s decision-making for the series loss.

England are also keen to strengthen its coaching and managerial staff, as McCullum has agreed to structural changes and to give performance director Ed Barney an extended role.

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