McCullum set to take reins of Black Caps

MARK GEENTY

Last updated 05:00 07/12/2012

Photosport

ON THIN ICE: Ross Taylor (right) could be replaced as captain of the New Zealand cricket team by Brendon McCullum (left).

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One of the ugliest sagas to hit New Zealand Cricket will finally get an official comment today with Brendon McCullum set to be confirmed as the country's 28th test captain.

Ross Taylor's immediate future will also be revealed at an Auckland press conference today, after he went into yesterday's summit meeting with NZC chief executive David White intending to refuse his offer of the test captaincy only, and seriously considering taking a break from cricket and missing the South Africa tour.

The outcome of the meeting, held away from NZC's Auckland base, remained unclear but The Dominion Post understands it would have taken a mighty effort from White to convince Taylor otherwise.

The incumbent skipper remains disillusioned at being hung out to dry by Black Caps management on the Sri Lanka tour.

Coach Mike Hesson and Taylor's relationship was this week described as untenable after Hesson gave his skipper the opportunity to resign before the two-test series. It was then made clear that Taylor would be sacked on the team's return.

Hesson intended to recommend to the board that McCullum take over the captaincy in all three formats for South Africa. But an olive branch was offered to Taylor in the form of the test captaincy after his man-of-the-match performance in New Zealand's 167-run win in Colombo.

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