Brendon McCullum: Man on a mission

by Shreyas S. Bhide

A Test average of 31, an ODI average of 24 and an T20 average of just above 28. These may look like just about ordinary figures, but the impact they have had are enormous. These figures talk about a special gifted player from the southern hemisphere named Brendon McCullum.

mccullum 7Y1KR 17022

The wicket keeper batsman for the Black Caps and currently also the deputy to captain Daniel Vettori, stepped up in the national side after an outstanding career in international youth cricket, where he proved capable of dominating opposition attacks.

The journey at the top most level was not easy though. McCullum has had to work hard on the domestic circuit and had to show some extraordinary talent to get noticed. He played three under-19 Test matches for New Zealand in 2000/01 and scored 455 runs at 151.66 with three hundreds. The runs were made in quick time too, coming at a strike rate of 95.58 runs per 100 balls. In July 2002 while playing club cricket in Australia for Northern Territory side Palmerston Cricket Club, he scored a record 250 not out in less than 100 balls. which is believed to be the highest ever score made in the territory. The sparks of a swashbuckling stroke maker were evident ever since then. Thanks to his playing style, he got a place in the ODI side and made his limited overs international debut against Australia in early 2002.

The first few outings in international cricket proved inconsistent though, and the form and fitness that McCullum showed on the domestic circuit were fast losing relevance on the international scene. McCullum was showing occasional sparks in the limited overs format, but they were not enough to earn him a test spot. He got to sport his whites for New Zealand for the first time in 2004 against South Africa, but the debut wasn't as shining as the debutante and it looked liked McCullum would struggle more in the longer version of the game. Fortunately, lady luck and good form struck soon and McCullum finally made his mark in England in the 2004 tour, with 200 runs in the Test series, including an swashbuckling and entertaining 96 at Lord's. Though he missed out on an century at Lord's, he scored his maiden Test century several months later when he scored 143 against Bangladesh. Later he scored 111* against Zimbabwe. At Napier in April 2005 he narrowly missed another Test century, falling lbw to Lasith Malinga for 99 in the match, hitting 2 mighty sixes and ten fours, reminding many of the spectators of Adam Gilchrist. Though his first two centuries came against two weak nations, the kind of innings he played were testimony of the fact that they were masterful knocks, irrespective of the opposition. This display helped him get selected in the 20-man ICC World XI squad for the ICC Super Series the very next year.

Circa - Early 2007, when Australia were touring New Zealand, and the Kiwis became the first team to white wash the mighty Aussies(3-0), for the first time since 1997. Here, Brendon McCullum played a vital part. In the final match, he scored 86 not out and struck a massive six off the first ball of the last over against Nathan Bracken to level the scores, before he finished it off with a boundary. Having now become a regular member in the test as well as ODI sides, McCullum was soon turning into a serious part of the Black Caps' think tank. On 21 March 2007, he set a new World Cup record, by smashing 50 runs from just 20 balls against Canada in St Lucia. He finished his innings with 52 runs from 21 balls, including 10 fours and 5 sixes, with a strike rate of 247.61. In December 2007 he scored his highest ever ODI score of 96(103) against Australia. Later, he scored 50 from just 19 balls against Bangladesh. He finished his innings with 80 runs from only 28 balls, including 9 fours and 6 sixes with a strike rate of 285.71 resulting in a 10 wicket win. Consider this, the Kiwis were chasing just 93 from 50 overs and achieved it in only 6 overs. In his very next series outing against England, he scored 50 from 27 balls against England. He finished his innings with 80 runs from only 47 balls, including 8 fours and 5 sixes with a strike rate of 170.21 resulting in a 10 wicket win and giving New Zealand a 2-0 lead in the 5 match series.

By now, McCullum had established himself as a bang-on hitter and was considered an ideal opening batsman for the first T20 world cup to be inaugurated in South Africa. Though his stint in the inaugural T20 world cup was an above average one, it did help him find many takers. He was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for $700,000 to play in the IPL and he proved worth his money. He claimed the record for highest individual score in a Twenty20 innings, scoring 158* from only 73 balls, which included 13 sixes and 10 fours in boundaries, for the Kolkata Knight Riders against Bangalore Royal Challengers in the first game of the Indian Premier League helping them get a much deserved 140 run victory. It was only ideal that McCullum finished off the match with the final catch. This innings and the IPL experience gave him the much needed confidence and further boosted his career on the international level. On 1 July 2008, he scored his maiden ODI century, eventually getting dismissed for 166 against Ireland. He shared in a 266 run opening stand with James Marshall, which is the highest ODI partnership for any wicket in Black Caps history and the second highest opening partnership in all ODIs. McCullum has also had a brief stint with English county cricket, where he played for Glamorgan, but with moderate success.

Considering the above profile, it is clear that McCullum is a precious player for the Black Caps, and he would prove to be of utmost importance in the upcoming series against India, who look to be going amok and continue their winning form. The one person who can dominate and halt the India victory juggernaut is McCullum and Daniel Vettori and his team mates will be surely looking forward to the New Zealand vice-captain for some sparks.