McCullum just wants to be cool

Reuters

TOO HOT: Black Caps wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum can't wait to get to the cool climes of Dunedin and play test cricket.

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Fresh from the one day heat of the United Arab Emirates, Black Caps wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum can't wait to get to the cool climes of Dunedin and play test cricket.

In the past few months, Brendon McCullum has played cricket in the heat of Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and the United Arab Emirates.

The climatic contrast will be acute next week, when he lines up to play test cricket in Dunedin – where on Sunday it was hailing around about the time play is due to start each day in the forthcoming match against Pakistan.

"It will be nice to be back down south," McCullum said.

"I haven't been back for a few months, so it will be nice to see all my friends and be back in some familiar surroundings again.

"It's pretty special to be able to play a test match in Dunedin, so fingers crossed, the weather plays its part, too."

The wicketkeeper-batsman's long and winding road home started in Sri Lanka in August with tests and one-day matches, before he and the Black Caps trekked to South Africa, where New Zealand made a thrilling charge to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy.

McCullum had little time to taste the bitter disappointment of defeat to Australia in the final, as he was straight on a plane to India to join his Otago Volts team mates for the Champions League Twenty20 tournament.

McCullum had knocked back an offer to play for New South Wales in the lucrative competition – a costly decision financially as the Blues ended up winning the tournament while the Volts were eliminated after they lost both their pool games.

However, McCullum had no regrets about his choice.

"I saw it as an opportunity to play in a world tournament with some of my best mates, whether we won or lost.

"While it was disappointing, it actually didn't bother me. I had an opportunity to play with those guys, loved every minute of it, and the fact New South Wales went on to win was great for them. It was the right option.

"I thought we had a really good chance, and if it wasn't for the last couple of overs in both games with the ball, when we came up against some batters who had their day and they are allowed to do that I guess, we would have chased more competitive totals.

"It's hard to chase 190 in a 20 over match; regardless of the conditions, you've got to play pretty well to get that and we weren't quite up to it."

"We had a really good shot, we weren't quite good enough to go further in the tournament, but we had a great time though and hopefully we will learn those lessons and perform better next time around."

One thing the Volts' early demise did provide McCullum with was a brief respite from cricket before New Zealand's trip to the United Arab Emirates to face Pakistan.

Not that McCullum had a quiet time of it, with the build-up to the tour blighted with the general turmoil of the departure of team coach Andy Moles and the personal turmoil of his vice captaincy position being dis-established.

The rationale for the decision to cut McCullum's vice-captain's role was to allow him to concentrate in his batting, a run of low scores having led some observers to question whether he should retain his position opening the batting.

McCullum responded positively, and racked up scores of 21, 131 and 76 as New Zealand overcame Pakistan 2-1. His 76 was a captain's knock deputising for a concussed Daniel Vettori in the series-clinching third match of the series.

"That I had to captain the team in the end anyway ... there certainly is some irony in that," McCullum said.

"But I still see myself as a senior player in the team and as a senior player your job is to score runs and perform.

"I saw my first job as being doing that, and if I could lead and help away from that, that was great.

"I have strong ambitions to be part of a successful New Zealand cricket team, and it was frustrating that I was unable to put the performances on the board that were helping at that time, so it's nice to have done that in the past couple of games.

"I was obviously under quite significant pressure in terms of the opening spot and also controversy around the team and the vice captaincy before we went away, so to get over there, find my focus, and channel things in the right direction in terms of performances, it was great to come away having helped us to create something special in terms of New Zealand cricket history and win away from home against Pakistan. I'm hoping it's a launching pad rather than a one-off, and it will be the catalyst for a strong year."

McCullum is desperate for that form to translate to the test arena. Last summer at home against India New Zealand lost the series 2-1, and rued missed chances to win matches – notably in Napier, where they made India follow on but could not put them to the sword.

The team's poor test performances continued in Sri Lanka where the home team outplayed New Zealand twice, a run of poor results which McCullum is keen to bring to a halt as soon as possible.

"We haven't won a test in a while," McCullum said.

"We've had some opportunities where if we had of played better we could have maximised our opportunities – I'm definitely thinking of Napier – but I think we can build on the confidence we are gaining in the one-day game.

"While it is a lot different, we have a confident team environment so hopefully we can build that into stronger test performances.

"There is no reason why we shouldn't be a better test team than what we are.

"I don't buy into this, I guess philosophy, around that we don't have the skill level to last that period of time.

"Now is an opportunity where the players can buck the trend and become a good test side."

"After the last series we saw how close the teams are and it will be great for Otago cricket and Dunedin supporters to be able to see a good spectacle down at the University Oval."