ENG vs NZ | ‘I couldn't have asked for a more receptive dressing room than what we've had’ - McCullum

England Test team's head coach Brendon McCullum said that Ben Stokes' aspirations as a skipper align beautifully with his vision.

In an interview with SENZ Radio, the newly appointed head coach of the English Test side spoke about his relationship with the new Test captain Ben Stokes in the team.

"I think where Stokesy's (Ben Stokes) at in his career, and his aspirations as a leader and where he sees his team needs to go, it aligns beautifully to his personality and also to mine," Brendon McCullum SENZ Radio. 

McCullum admitted that he initially feared the two were too similar to succeed together. The 40-year-old Kiwi said Stokes ensures that they involve others from the leadership group within the side while important discussions are being made.

"The danger probably was that we'd be too similar. But I think both of us have got such motivation to try and improve the side that we give and take in the areas we need to, and we try and ensure that we surround ourselves with leaders within the group as well, both on the field and also support staff who can fill in some of the gaps where we may not be as strong as well."

"So understanding that we're not the perfect products either, but I think being able to bounce off each other and to also push each other towards the danger, as well because sometimes even you have doubts. But if you're able to have that filtering system between both the captain and the coach and to remain on task with what we're trying to achieve and the direction that we want to go, I think it gives you a better chance of ensuring that there's consistency with that message," he added.

"I think both of us have got such motivation to try and improve the side that we give and take in the areas we need to."

The former New Zealand skipper credited captain Stokes for how the dressing room had received him and the fact that he has been able to sync well with the skipper.

"I couldn't have asked for a more receptive dressing room than what we've had in the last two Test matches. But a lot of that is down to the skipper, his way and his methods are very much aligned to mine."

England have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing series against New Zealand. Post the completion of the ongoing series, the Ben Stokes-led side are scheduled to play a Test against India, beginning on July 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.