England captain Ben Stokes says his sole focus is on winning the series-deciding Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, following a turbulent two weeks that saw him miss a match for breaching team curfew.
Stokes returned to the role after investigations cleared him and bowler Gus Atkinson of wrongdoing in a nightclub incident. In his absence, England lost heavily at The Oval under stand-in captain Joe Root, leveling the series at 1-1.
Addressing the media, Stokes dismissed talk of a rift with head coach Brendon McCullum, emphasizing their strong professional and personal bond. "Not agreeing on everything shouldn't be seen as a divide," he said. He also expressed sympathy for Root, whose tactical calls were criticized after the loss, calling it "hard to see" as a friend.
The third Test begins at Trent Bridge on Thursday.