Brendon McCullum is upbeat about Ben Stokes’ injury comeback ahead of the India Tests, saying, “We’ll make that call as late as we need to.”

Furthermore, after the top batter withdrew from the India series for personal reasons, Brendon McCullum also mentioned Harry Brook. Family comes first, according to the England coach, and the whole team is well aware of this.

A five-match Test series between England and India is all set to start on January 25. The first Test match between the two teams will take place at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Prior to the first Test, England has not yet decided whether to call up captain Ben Stokes.

In November 2023, the 32-year-old had knee surgery to address a persistent issue. In addition, he hasn’t bowled since July 2023, and his ability to play in the first Test appeared to be in jeopardy due to the surgery. But head coach Brendon McCullum spoke up to provide additional context.

He declared that Ben Stokes should be fit for the first test, stating that he appeared to be a greyhound. On the other hand, the side wishes to request his involvement as soon as feasible. Furthermore, the former captain of New Zealand disclosed that the team is in no rush to decide whether or not the English captain is ready for the Hyderabad Test, and they are free to wait as long as they want to make that decision.

“He appears to be a greyhound. Everyone is aware of his exceptional work ethic and that he has put in the work. He seems to be in good health based on what I’ve seen him doing. Of course, we’ll make that call whenever it’s necessary. However, he’s put in all the effort, so we’ll just have to wait and see,” the BBC cited McCullum as adding.

We are thinking of Harry and his family: Brendon McCullum

It’s a joy to play cricket for a job, but certain things are more important than that. Naturally, our thoughts are with Harry and his family during this difficult time, Brendon McCullum added.

“We hope that Brooky’s (Brook) next few months are as comfortable as they can be, and we wish him the best. We simply want him to be with his family and do his thing for the time being, but there’s a chance he may come back later in the tour, the head coach continued.

However, Virat Kohli’s announcement that he would not be available for the first two Tests, again citing personal reasons, dealt a serious blow to the hosts India. The BCCI has not yet decided who will replace the New Delhi native, even though the Hyderabad Test is just a few hours away from starting.