by Outside of his day job as England head coach, Brendon McCullum owns and breeds racehorses in his native New Zealand. And when a “big chestnut with a pale face and dodgy legs” came out of the stable some time ago, it apparently rang too many bells not to give him the name of his accomplice, Ben Stokes.
“This horse has a big heart too, so I thought he was perfect,” said McCullum, before England swapped their training base from Queenstown for sunny Christchurch. The pair even went to watch the captain’s namesake, Stokes, claim a creditable third place at nearby Riccarton Park Racecourse before this tour of New Zealand officially began, despite some concerns about his readiness.
Related: England ready to put on Pope’s gloves again after Cox’s New Zealand tour ends with injury
There is of course no third place in a Test series. And with some of the previous momentum under McCullum stalled by a seven-win, seven-loss year so far, England would need to quell growing unrest among a section of their supporters who are finding their methods and selections exasperating. The head coach accepts that they will be judged on their results and emphasizes that they are “fiercely competitive”, although his mantra remains that a focus on results affects clarity of thought.
Eighteen months after England’s 1-1 draw in New Zealand ended in a one-point defeat in Wellington – the rarest of margins and after forcing the follow-up – the two teams meet for a much more satisfying three-match affair. The hosts are favorites, fresh off a historic 3-0 scoreline in India. Although envious of his compatriots, McCullum described it as the “greatest performance” in New Zealand history and praised the ingenuity behind it.
Like Stokes, the racehorse, England’s preparation for the series has been a source of worry, whether it was the 2-1 defeat in Pakistan or Jordan Cox’s recent injury. Unless his replacement – likely Durham’s Ollie Robinson – can fly over in time, Ollie Pope will keep wicket in the first Test which begins on Thursday. For a player under pressure, this is a complication he could probably do without.
Speaking before Cox’s broken finger was confirmed, McCullum threw his weight behind Pope, insisting these nervous starts are not the headache people outside the camp consider them to be. With his counterpart Gary Stead signaling an all-out attack for the hosts at Hagley Oval, conditions will at least be a far cry from the last two surfaces in Pakistan which were dried out for the home players using industrial fans and which saw the ‘England. crumbling like old plasterboard in response.
“I wouldn’t say Pakistan shook our confidence, but it really hurt us,” McCullum said. “When I talk to the guys, I say that as a cricketer you need a memory like a sieve. You need what happened before to wash over you and focus on the here and now, to ensure you are fully present. This gives you the best opportunity.
Of Pope, who has three centuries this year but few in between, he added: “Few England players have had a long career at No. 3 and been successful. It’s been a big year for him. He took the position of captain [when Stokes missed four Tests through injury]. It makes you grow, whether instantly or over time. We think this experience will make him a better player. He remains an important player for us.
“Even Ricky Ponting was sensitive in his first 20 or 30 balls and once he got going he was creeping up on you. I’m not saying Ollie Pope is Ricky Ponting, but it’s not an easy place to hit because the ball does more. I think he will like the conditions here. If he can do that, these pitches with extra bounce should suit his style.
Stokes made his return from that hamstring injury in Pakistan, but was subdued when he did, averaging 13 from four innings and uncharacteristically allowing the game to drift away in the deciding match in Rawalpindi . His family experiencing this terrible home burglary can only have one impact, although McCullum insists the intense work to get back into shape was the main factor and it was never about returning home him earlier than expected. “The work he has done will be crowned with success in the coming times,” he added.
This tour played where it naturally does trigger thoughts about next winter’s Ashes, although here and now McCullum has brushed aside questions about relevance. Nonetheless, planning for this moonshot has been affected by the news that Jofra Archer – believed to be targeting a red-ball return – will start in the Indian Premier League next summer after securing a £1.4million deal during Sunday’s auction.
Unlike Stokes, who opted out to concentrate on England, Archer was reportedly influenced by the IPL’s new rule where players who did not put their names forward would be banned for three years. For an injured fast bowler, the desire to keep that path open is understandable, although England, who have paid for his long periods of rehabilitation, could also be forgiven for feeling sidelined.
Offering a diplomatic view, McCullum said: “[Archer] is all-in to play for England and return to red-ball cricket, but at the same time there are significant opportunities for him. You have to be fluid. He has to continue to feel good in his body, carry a decent workload and from there he has to raise his hand.
“There are no guarantees [he will be selected when he is back in red-ball cricket] However. We’ve unearthed some incredible talent over the past 12 months. Stocks look pretty good. If he can be fit and ready and that’s the skill set we’re looking for, he comes in for selection.
The warning reflects the emergence of Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, two quicks who now have the opportunity to hone their skills with the Kookaburra ball on the southern surfaces. Not that this tour will be a simple learning exercise, with New Zealand being dynamic and England having to be present at the races from the start.
