Both Stokes and McCullum are contracted until 2027 and have publicly expressed their desire to stay on beyond the current tour.
The astronomical fee paid for Ben Stokes at the IPL auction is a confirmation of his status as the modern game's finest all-rounder.
Captain Ben Stokes brushed off concerns about England's Ashes preparations on Wednesday, saying there was no way the squad could prepare in the same way touring teams of the past had, given the demands of the modern game.
England trail 2-0 in the five-Test series after being outplayed with bat, ball and in the field during the eight-wicket loss in the day-night match in Brisbane.
England's Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the fourth and final Test against Pakistan at The Oval due to a calf injury but the all-rounder refused to write off his chances of playing in the subsequent limited overs matches against the same opponents.
England's Stokes praises Australia's Head, supports his own errant batters
Jonny Bairstow supports Liam Livingstone's criticism of the England cricket hierarchy's level of care for players, highlighting concerns about the system's support for those outside the core group and the need to rebuild connections with county cricket.
'Stokes, to me, has been a phenomenon this season'
England all-rounder Ben Stokes, born in New Zealand, played a crucial role in England's World Cup victory and he starred for the hosts in the final match against New Zealand.
The England players have come in for heavy criticism since Australia wrapped up an 82-run win in the third Test in Adelaide on Sunday to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
England captain Ben Stokes tried to focus on the positives after his team's agonising six-run loss to India in their riveting final Test at The Oval on Monday.
England captain Ben Stokes broke his own record for the most overs bowled by himself during a Test series.
With this the classy all-rounder has achieved a rare milestone that few legends of the game can boast of.
Ben Stokes becomes 3rd all rounder to have 7,000 runs, 200 wickets in Test cricket
It is understood that Rajasthan Royals will 'wait' for Stokes to get back to the management and only if the cricketer confirms his availability for the second half, it will take things forward.
Ben Stokes acknowledged that missed opportunities early in the match allowed India to take firm control of the second Test at Edgbaston
Fast bowler Jofra Archer was ruled out of the rest of the Ashes series with a left side strain.
'Sometimes vice-captains aren't brilliant captains.'
The 33-year-old Stokes had surgery on his left hamstring in December after suffering a tear during the third Test against New Zealand, which ruled him out of action for a prolonged period.
Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third Test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said.
Ben Stokes' lengthy bowling spells against India in the third Test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said.
England Captain Ben Stokes was involved in a heated on-field exchange with Australia's No.3 Marnus Labuschagne, an incident that drew strong reactions from former players in the commentary box.
Ben Stokes, who played a few memorable knocks this year, especially at the ICC World Cup final and then powering England to victory at Headingley in the Ashes, beat Lewis Hamilton, Raheem Sterling among others to win the coveted crown.
'We thought they deserved a century there (about the decision to not shake hands). Every match going till the last session on the last day.'
Former captain Michael Vaughan is astonished by England's decision to bowl first on a dry Headingley wicket, a decision that backfired as India finished at 359 for 3 on day one of the first Test in Leeds.
'What a player he is. He bowls, bats and executes a crucial run out of Rishabh Pant but there is no talk of workload management. But with India it is not like that.'
Ben Stokes thrives on his battles with some of the sport's most competitive players as it tends to bring out the best in the feisty England all-rounder, who is hoping to recover quickly from his nightmare end to the World Twenty20 tournament.
England have not won a first Ashes Test in Australia in nearly 40 years, nor beaten the hosts in Perth since 1978.
India's batters Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar refused England skipper Ben Stokes' offer to call off the fourth Test and settle for a draw before the start of the final hour of play.
Cameron Green and Alex Carey guided Australia to an emphatic five-wicket victory against England, to claim the series 4-1, on Day 5 of the fifth Ashes Test on Thursday.
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 1st Ashes Test in Perth on Saturday.
The hosts lost six wickets in the first session for 94 runs after resuming on four for no loss on Day 2 of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
Stokes admitted that the aggression from the Indian players added some adrenalin into his side.
With England heading to Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium with a 2-1 lead, the hosts will be hoping that 'Big Match Stokes'-who has been exceptional and all guns blazing with the ball-shows up with the bat as well.
"Came here to give myself every chance to play just as batter": Stokes after being ruled out of Oval Test
Australia stormed to an eight-wicket victory in the second Ashes Test on Sunday to take a 2-0 series lead as England succumbed on day four to a pace blitz from unlikely hero Michael Neser.
'They are up their own backsides convinced that Test cricket has changed so much that only they know anything about the modern game.'
Australia dominated day two of the second Ashes Test on Friday with a punishing batting assault on a lifeless Gabba pitch as England fumbled their chances in the field.
Cricketer-turned-commentator Vaughan has expressed his thoughts regarding the fourth Test. The former cricketer praised England's win but added that cricket fans should not celebrate after seeing a Test match ending in two days.
Woakes was angry that Jadeja again ran on the danger area. Jadeja pointed out saying he was on one side. Stokes was not happy, he walked up to the spot and stood there.
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