England Test captain Ben Stokes has finally addressed rumours of a rift with head coach Brendon McCullum. The speculation began after England suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat in the The Ashes in Australia. The observers began to investigate the relationship between the captain and the coach because of this situation. The issue became more prominent during the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) review that followed the series. The Telegraph reported that both Stokes and McCullum expressed their private frustrations during their meetings. The parties involved raised two central issues which involved their respective strategic plans and decision-making processes. The team leaders first developed the belief that major conflicts existed between their leadership members. After those discussions both parties decided to progress together. The decision enables McCullum to continue his current position until his contract termination in 2027. The review process led officials to suggest several alterations which would enhance the team's performance. The ECB Performance Director Ed Barney will probably assume increased responsibilities on his job. The board intends to introduce coaching system improvements through a stronger focus on athletic training and conditioning programs. The team will develop a more efficient operational system through these actions. Stokes has expressed his approval for the changes which the team wants to implement. The ECB believes Stokes and McCullum will successfully lead the team from this point forward. Stokes has now responded to the rumours directly. He showed that he maintains both respect and professional ties with McCullum who works together with him. He explained that leaders must accept that people will disagree with each other. The team results and decision-making process improve through those discussions which teams need to conduct with their members. Stokes in an interview with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB): “Saying that, we weren't aligned is a massive overstatement. When you are in a leadership position with someone else. If anyone thinks you're always going to agree on everything, then it's impossible, and that to me isn't a healthy environment for sport in particular, where everyone just agrees with everyone.” He further added that debates and arguments can be beneficial. The process helps leaders to share their thoughts while developing better decisions. This method helps the team maintain its development and ability to succeed. Also Read | Is Virat Kohli Injured? New Video Sparks Big Concern for RCB Ahead of LSG Clash Stokes added: “You need debates, you need arguments. You need discussions, and then you end up where you both want to be. As similar as Brendon and I are, we are also dissimilar. The thing we both want is to be as successful as we can.” England are now preparing for their upcoming Test series against New Zealand which will start on June 4. The team currently occupies seventh place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings because they have achieved three victories and six defeats in ten matches which gives them a PCT of 31.67. Australia secured the top position in the table after winning seven out of their eight matches which resulted in a PCT of 87.50. England needs to develop more consistent performances which will lead to better outcomes. Stokes and McCullum work together to achieve this goal.