Ben Stokes England FULL press conference — "There's a big misconception around me and McCullum"

[0:00] Hi Ben, good to see you back. [0:01] A lot's happened over the last two weeks, a lot's been said, written. [0:05] Can you just give us your perspective on what's occurred and how it's all unfolded? [0:09] Yeah, pretty interesting couple of weeks. [0:13] But look, I think the main thing about me being back, Gus being back, [0:20] is for us to obviously focus on the main objective, [0:25] which obviously is the cricket this week. [0:27] There has been a lot going on, there's no doubt about that, [0:29] there's no hiding away from that. [0:32] But as I say, one of the big things about me coming back into the environment [0:36] and Gus coming back into the environment is making sure that we try our best [0:41] to get the teams focused on what the most important thing is, [0:45] which is what we need to go out there and do this week. [0:48] It's 1-1 in a series, we've got one more game left, [0:51] and the importance of the result of this game, I think, [0:56] is the one thing that we need to be concentrating on. [0:58] It must have been a tough period for you, particularly when it first became public knowledge. [1:02] Did you feel supported by Brendan McCullum, Rob Key and the ECB? [1:07] Look, I think you look at the whole situation, it's affected quite a lot of people in many different ways. [1:17] You know, it's affected Rob, it's affected Brendan, myself, Gus, and also the team and, you know, fans of English cricket as well. [1:27] So, look, we've been through the process, we've got to the end of it. [1:34] Me and Gus are back here in the team now. [1:37] I'm back in my role as captain, Gus is back in his role as one of the senior members of the team, [1:43] and we know that we've got a big role to play this week in trying to get the series win, [1:48] and that's obviously the most important thing for us going into this week. [1:51] Did you fear you might lose the captaincy, and did you consider stepping down? [1:56] I think there's been a lot of speculation flying around over the last couple of weeks. [2:00] The process has been done, we've finished, me and Gus are back here now, doing what we do, doing what we love, [2:08] and, yeah, we're ready to focus on this week, which is to go and win this game. [2:12] And how's your relationship with Brendan McCullum? Has it been affected at all? [2:17] There's been, I think, a big misconception around this with me and Brendan. [2:23] Me and Brendan obviously have a professional relationship in terms of Brendan being head coach, [2:31] me being captain, but then we've also got a relationship away from that. [2:36] We generally are very good mates, we've built a rapport and a relationship away from that, [2:41] and we've been through some testing times, we've been through some great times. [2:47] Do we agree on everything? Absolutely not. [2:50] Do we have discussions around things? Absolutely. [2:53] And those discussions are the things that end both of us getting to a place where we can make a good decision. [3:01] And not agreeing on everything shouldn't be, you know, seen as a divide between me and Brendan. [3:12] You are allowed to have discussions, you are allowed to have disagreements, [3:16] but I feel like you need to get those things out there to each other to end up being in a place where you can make a good decision. [3:24] But me and Brendan, our relationship goes beyond him being captain, me being captain and him being coach. [3:30] He said last week at the Oval he was worried about you. [3:33] Why do you think that was? Because it created a bit of uncertainty about your future. [3:37] Friends care for each other, don't they? [3:39] Just like I think anyone else would if someone was worried about one of their friends and how they portray that in front of, you know, quite a lot of people. [3:52] It's not an easy thing to do, I don't think. [3:55] You know, so look, I think just give Brendan a break on all that. [4:00] It was a hard thing for him to do to come up here and speak about that, I'm sure. [4:04] I knew what he was meaning. [4:06] He cares about me. [4:08] He cares about members of that team as well. [4:09] So, yeah, I think don't read into his words too much. [4:14] But you feel good mentally, physically, you've been through a lot, you feel ready to go again? [4:19] I feel great. [4:20] I think that's also one thing to, for me, it's, over the last two weeks, there's been a lot going on. [4:28] And the support that I felt like I got from, you know, the fans of not just English cricket, but cricket in general, was actually quite overwhelming. [4:44] And that sort of is something that I don't want to be overlooked. [4:48] The sort of, yeah, the love and support that I felt, although there was a lot going on and a lot of speculation over the last couple of weeks, [4:55] I don't think that should take away how the reaction from, you know, teammates, fans, even you lot to a certain extent, was actually quite nice. [5:10] So, yeah, look, I'm looking forward to getting back into it for a few different reasons this week. [5:15] And finally for me, just on the point of the curfew, did you know it was in place and you thought it going forward? [5:20] Because the test had finished, hadn't it? [5:22] Look, I think, as again, the process of this whole disciplinary thing has been done from two different angles and, you know, the outcome of that. [5:34] So that's all been done. [5:37] Me and Gus, we're back here playing cricket. [5:40] I'm captaining this week. [5:41] He's back in the team as a player and we're going to go out there and try and win this game. [5:46] Are you about the curfew? Do you understand the need for it? [5:48] Just answered that. [5:49] OK, thank you. [5:50] Sorry, you said then that you're captaining this week. [5:56] Have the discussions gone further than that? [6:00] Are you captain until you're not? [6:04] Look, again, I understand that there's a lot of questions that you guys probably want to ask and want to hear from me. [6:10] But I hope that you respect that in terms of this whole week I'm focusing on this week. [6:16] This has been, you know, something that has happened and has obviously taken a lot of attention away from this series. [6:26] But I want to make sure that my focus is where it needs to be. [6:30] Right now, my focus is on the team, on the series. [6:35] We're 1-1 in a three-match series. [6:38] This week is, you know, massive for this team, regardless of what's going on. [6:45] You know, we've always had some very good series against New Zealand. [6:50] Look, we're back at Trent Bridge where we've done some pretty special things. [6:53] Funnily enough, we had another special memory here against New Zealand four years ago. [6:57] So, yeah, that's where my focus is at right now. [7:03] I understand that there probably is some questions. [7:06] But right now, I'm here as captain of this team. [7:09] And all I'm trying to do is get the team focused on winning the series this week. [7:13] I suppose that does invite the notion that it's one game that you're looking at. [7:19] You know, you're contracted right through to the next dashes. [7:23] You're very clear that you're focused on the week, the five days ahead. [7:27] So, I'm very clear on, and I think I just made that, [7:30] I'm very clear that I'm very focused on the outcome of this week [7:33] because we've got a series to play for. [7:35] And then just on Gus, you've mentioned him a couple of times there, [7:38] but he's at a different stage of his career to you. [7:42] This is the first time probably he's found himself under the glare, [7:46] not for his bowling, basically. [7:50] You know, in various points of your career, [7:52] you've put your arm around people in difficult moments. [7:54] Have you had to, even though you're in the glare of it yourself, [7:57] have you looked out for him and feel like he's shaping up OK? [8:00] Yeah, definitely. [8:01] Look, I think, look, I spoke with Gus quite a lot over the period. [8:06] And, you know, it was something I said to him, [8:09] look, it's not my first rodeo being in something like this, mate. [8:13] It is tough. [8:14] It's hard to go through. [8:15] But it will be all right. [8:19] So, you know, take my advice on, you know, just let time do its thing. [8:26] Because, you know, it is, I guess when you're going through something like this [8:29] for the first time, like Gus has done, [8:30] you don't really know what it's going to be like. [8:31] Even though I know what it is like, it still doesn't make it any easier. [8:37] But, you know, I made an active decision to make sure that I tried to keep in contact [8:41] with Gus as much as I could and just sort of trying to reassure him [8:46] that eventually everything will be OK. [8:49] Even though probably initially it didn't feel like it would be. [8:52] But, look, he's the same as me. [8:53] We spoke about that and just said the most important thing for me and you this week [8:57] is getting back into the team and making sure the other team members know [9:00] that me and you are totally focused on the team and the result of this week. [9:07] How useful did you find it to play that innings for Durham? [9:10] How what? [9:11] Useful. [9:12] Useful. [9:12] Do you have your own batting rhythm? [9:13] Oh, right. [9:14] It's good to get some runs, to be honest. [9:16] You know, it was nice to get out there and feel, you know, [9:20] just sort of things that I found like I've been, you know, trying to find. [9:27] And when you simplify things, it's actually amazing. [9:29] It was like I look back on it and I thought, well, [9:32] the thing that I was trying to find is probably something that wasn't there, [9:35] if that makes sense. [9:36] It's just, I just cleared my mind of everything and made it pretty simple. [9:44] Just go there and react to the ball. [9:46] Whereas maybe, well, no, definitely I could say before that, [9:49] I think I was thinking about too much before the ball actually ended up coming down. [9:53] And then I wasn't thinking about, you know, really what you need to do when you're batting, [9:58] which is watch the ball and score off it. [10:00] And if you can't, try and not get out to it. [10:03] You know, it's a pretty simple game if you think about that. [10:05] I wish it was that simple, but it was maybe just overcomplicating things a bit before. [10:09] Whereas, yeah, just had a real clear mind going into my training this week with Durham, [10:16] going into the game this week with Durham. [10:18] And, you know, I always try and take the positives out of some things. [10:23] Yeah, maybe being on the front pages for the wrong reasons could be good for me cricket. [10:28] Hey, John. [10:36] Ben, I just wondered how difficult it was watching events unfold at the Oval from 300 miles away [10:42] and not being able to do anything about it. [10:44] Yeah, it's always difficult, you know, like I was obviously playing for Durham [10:49] and obviously watching how things were going. [10:51] And I guess for me, like I think Joe Root in particular is someone who, you know, [11:03] we've known each other since we were kids. [11:04] And, you know, he got put into a situation which I never thought, [11:10] which he never thought would probably have to be bestowed upon him again [11:13] after walking away from captaincy. [11:15] But I think that in itself just shows not only is he, you know, [11:20] one of the greats of the game in terms of on the field, [11:22] but I think it shows a lot about his character. [11:24] And seeing, I think, him stand up and take that responsibility on last week [11:31] showed a lot about his character. [11:32] But then also from the other side, from me as his friend, [11:36] it was hard to see the reaction that he got. [11:43] And for me, that's something that, you know, hurt me [11:46] because I'm very, very close with Joe. [11:49] And as I said at the start, you know, everyone's, [11:54] when something happens, it is obviously going to affect someone else. [11:56] And seeing the effect that I had on Joe from public opinion [12:01] was hard to see and read from my point of view. [12:04] If that makes sense, but, you know, [12:07] that shouldn't take away the courage that Joe showed [12:12] in taking that on that week. [12:15] It would have been very, very easy for him to have said, [12:17] no, I don't need this. [12:19] But yet again, you know, he put the team first [12:22] that he's done on multiple occasions. [12:24] So, yeah, it was tough to watch from a few different angles. [12:30] Obviously, watching the guys lose [12:31] and go through the motions of losing the test match, [12:34] it's never nice because I know what it feels like losing. [12:37] But then seeing, you know, some of the reaction that Joe undeservedly got, [12:41] again, was something that I think hurts you [12:44] as a, not only as a colleague, but also as a friend. [12:46] So, yeah. [12:47] Hi, Ben. [12:52] It's often said, you know, you find out who your friends are [12:54] in times of adversity. [12:55] Are you and Brendan actually closer for what's happened [12:58] over the past couple of weeks? [13:02] It's a good question, that. [13:05] We certainly haven't drifted apart, [13:07] as there's been a big speculation about it. [13:10] I guess when you do go through sort of some difficult times, [13:16] you do, I guess, find another side to a relationship. [13:20] Maybe that year, I don't know, you never thought you could have. [13:23] You don't plan on going through something like this together [13:25] in a professional environment. [13:29] But, yeah, look, me and Brendan were talking, [13:33] you know, pretty much every day, [13:36] especially in the initial period. [13:38] And then when the game started, [13:39] it was sort of, obviously, the concentration of [13:43] what Baz needed to concentrate on [13:46] moved over to the team in that week. [13:48] But, yeah, look, again, maybe this would, [13:54] in the future, we look back on this and go, [13:57] you know, this did bring us tighter, [13:59] it did bring us closer. [14:01] But, look, this rift, this drifting apart, [14:05] that's been a thing. [14:08] We certainly haven't drifted further apart [14:10] than what people are speculating. [14:12] Ali, and then Nick, and then to the front of the air. [14:16] Ben, I imagine when everything was kicking off, [14:19] the emotions were running high. [14:21] Is it accurate that you kind of put it out there [14:23] that you might even jack it in [14:25] and retire from international cricket? [14:28] Again, just so much speculation [14:30] over the last couple of weeks, Ali. [14:33] This week is, you know, [14:36] probably a lot more riding on it [14:38] than it normally would be [14:39] going into a final game of a three-match series [14:41] being 1-1. [14:41] But, again, like, yesterday, [14:46] the important thing for me as captain of the team [14:48] was making sure that I was letting the lads know [14:52] that I am back properly as the captain of this team. [14:56] I did need to, obviously, say a few things [14:58] and acknowledge a few things to the team [15:01] and the team only. [15:02] And I feel like I voice those quite well to everyone. [15:07] I feel like I've also let them know [15:10] that where my concentration is [15:11] and it is thoroughly on what we need to do this week. [15:16] You know, everyone in the dressing room [15:19] is fully aware of the responsibilities [15:20] as them as players who got the call-up this week. [15:23] And I'm fully aware of the responsibilities [15:25] as me as captain to lead this team [15:27] in a pretty, you know, important game. [15:31] Yes, we didn't get the result we wanted last week, [15:35] but we can't change that. [15:36] What we can affect and decide on [15:38] is how we go about this week. [15:40] And we're desperate to get the result. [15:41] I'm desperate to get the result. [15:43] And, you know, I think I've made a pretty good effort [15:46] at making sure that the most important people [15:48] know that, which is the team. [15:50] Thank you.