Ben Stokes offered support to Brendon McCullum following the former's dismissal as England's Test coach. The former captain of New Zealand disclosed that Stokes contacted him after he was asked to step down prior to the first ODI against India.  

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Sunday that McCullum would only continue to lead white-ball cricket and relinquish the Test position.

England did not win any Test series against Australia or India under McCullum. McCullum's position became untenable after the series loss to New Zealand, which turned out to be the last straw.

McCullum said that he really liked his time as the Test coach but understands the ECB's decision to part ways with him.

“I got some nice messages from Stokesy, actually, and in a romantic kind of way, there's something about Stokesy and me going out together, which we started together, and we go out together, and I have no problem with that.

Difficult decisions need to be made sometimes in professional sports, and I totally respect the decision, and I thank everyone for the support that I've had over the time that I've been in this privileged position of being England men's Test head coach. I've had a great time; it's been one of the highlights of my time in this game I've been involved in for 20-odd years,” McCullum told BBC Test Match Special.

McCullum will continue as England’s white-ball coach in ODIs and T20Is. He recently oversaw England defeating current T20 World Cup champions 4-0 in the T20I series.

“I feel incredibly humbled to have had the opportunity. I love some of the moments we were able to achieve and some of the times that weren't quite what we wanted as well. You have to wear those, but this is top-level sport, and you have challenges, and you have great ambitions and goals. Sometimes you get there, and sometimes you don't, but I've really enjoyed it, and I want to thank everyone who has supported this team and has backed us all the way along,” he added.

McCullum will now oversee the England team in the first match of the three-game ODI series against India that begins in Birmingham on July 14.