England head coach Brendon McCullum has thrown his full support behind Ben Stokes ahead of the third Test against New Zealand, describing the captain's mindset as 'outstanding' and dismissing reports of a rift between them. Stokes returns to lead the side after serving a one-match suspension for the nightclub incident that also involved teammate Gus Atkinson.

McCullum revealed he spent over an hour with Stokes on Tuesday morning, stating his concerns from the previous week have evaporated. The all-rounder scored 95 runs for Durham while suspended and now resumes captaincy duties with England's series hanging in the balance. Both players were cleared of charges by the Cricket Regulator but found to have breached team curfew protocols.

England's 253-run defeat at The Oval in the second Test highlighted their struggles without Stokes' leadership and presence on the field. McCullum emphasized that while players should enjoy themselves on tour, maintaining standards remains essential. The coach stressed that mistakes will be addressed collectively as the team moves forward together.

The series-deciding third Test begins Thursday at Trent Bridge with both sides needing victory. McCullum's public endorsement of Stokes suggests England will field their strongest possible lineup as they seek to regain momentum against a New Zealand side buoyed by Matt Henry's 11-wicket haul in the previous match.