Fired-up McCullum at the helm for Otago

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Just a matter of days after returning from Dubai, the in-form Brendon McCullum will link up again with his Otago team-mates in the domestic cricket circles today.

McCullum will captain Otago today in their four-day Plunket Shield game against Canterbury in Rangiora.

It will be the New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman's first four-day game for Otago since 2002.

The 28-year-old returned from Dubai on Sunday, where he was with the Black Caps who took on Pakistan in a limited-overs series.

McCullum steps straight back into the role of Otago captain, with regular leader Craig Cumming set to play for a New Zealand invitational team against Pakistan in Queenstown on Thurs-day.

Otago coach Mike Hesson was pleased McCullum had agreed to step straight back into the domestic scene and take on the captaincy duties.

Previously, when Cumming has been unavailable Nathan McCullum had been thrown the captaincy duties.

However, he, Aaron Redmond and Ian Butler are not available to play Canterbury as the Black Cap trio nurse injuries following the trip to Dubai. Brendon McCullum and Neil Broom joined the Otago squad in Christchurch yesterday in the lead-up to today's game.

The two could be key in helping boost the Otago middle order, which was demolished by Northern Districts in the opening round of the Plunket Shield last week.

Otago were rolled for 88 in their first innings, which led to the crushing 10-wicket loss. The Otago batsmen struggled on the University Oval pitch, which had a bit of sideways movement early in the game.

Hamish Rutherford has paid the price, being dropped for the game against Canterbury.

Broom is likely to fill his spot at No5 in the order, while McCullum is expected to slot in at four, Shaun Haig up one to bat three and usual No3 Todd to the opening role.

McCullum will play solely as a batsman, with Derek de Boorder continuing to wear the wicketkeeping gloves.

Canterbury recorded a first-innings win over Wellington in their opening Plunket Shield game last week.