Stokes and McCullum clear the air before England's New Zealand decider
Captain returns to a stronger XI after a frank conversation with the head coach, drawing a line under a disciplinary episode that followed a heavy defeat at the Oval.
Daniel Fletcher
Writer ·
Ben Stokes has returned to England's Test side after what Brendon McCullum called a frank and positive conversation before the series decider against New Zealand.
Moving on from the Oval
The captain and head coach sought to move on from a disciplinary episode that followed a late night out and a heavy defeat at the Oval, drawing a clear line under the affair before the deciding match.
A stronger XI
England named a stronger side, with Stokes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith and Shoaib Bashir all back in the team as the side looked to settle a tight series.
What happens next
With the air cleared and key players restored, attention turns to the cricket itself, as England aim to channel the reset into a decisive performance against the Black Caps.
Sources: reporting by The Guardian.
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