McCullum vows to keep ‘firm grip’ on England players after ‘mistakes’ in winter tours

• Head coach ‘confident our best cricket is in front of us’

• Issues with alcohol among tourists due to ‘distractions’

Brendon McCullum has promised to use “a firm grip” to eradicate issues with alcohol and attitude among the England squad, admitting that “there were some mistakes made” by his players during last winter’s tours of New Zealand and Australia.

In his first interview since returning to England for the start of the international summer, with the first Test against New Zealand starting at Lord’s next Thursday, McCullum conceded that his team had proved unable to handle the pressure of an away Ashes series.