Test head coach McCullum massive asset for England, says Henry Nicholls

England are set to take New Zealand for a three-Test series in June with multiple new appointments. The series will be new Test coach Brendon McCullum and new red-ball skipper Ben Stokes' first assignment together.

Ahead of the start, New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls has opined that the combination of McCullum and Stokes will be great for the Three Lions' future.

Currently nursing an injury, Nicholls said that the former New Zealand captain would be an asset for England as we advance. According to the Times of India (ToI), Nicholls said, "It's been well documented the impact he's had on New Zealand cricket and the culture within the team, so he's going to be a massive asset,"

The left-hander explained how McCullum would lead his men from the front and do anything to give confidence to a player.

"He's a hugely inspiring character and certainly a guy who will lead from the front. He gave everyone around him a lot of confidence and made you feel like you're 10 foot tall at times and bullet-proof," Nicholls added.

The Christchurch-born believes that the pair of Stokes and McCullum would work great in tandem and would pose a challenge for the visiting side.

"Obviously, with Ben taking over as well - we know the style of cricket that he plays. They're quite similar characters, certainly in the way they play the game in terms of taking the aggressive options and giving the guys around them confidence. It's certainly an exciting time for England cricket from a test point of view, and it's going to be a great challenge for us," he concluded.

Nicholls will not be playing New Zealand's warm-up game against Sussex on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced a 13-man squad for the series under Stokes. Notable inclusions are James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who were dropped from the Test side for the West Indies tour in January-March.

The ECB today appointed Matthew Mott as England's men's new limited-overs head coach.