The other Brendon McCullum
We became accustomed to watching Baz dance down the wicket and swivel into majestic pull shots or clout the ball over extra cover. But his strength — that unflinching and brazen willingness to attack — was also a weapon his critics used to smear him. He threw his wicket away too often, they said. He was brash, reckless and a hopeless gambler. But the innings we all remember the best was quite the opposite. He resisted every instinct he ever had and knuckled down to score a match-saving 302 in the second test against India at the Basin Reserve five years ago. He faced 559 balls — enough for him to score a thousand runs if he was in the mood — and batted for nearly 11 hours. He also eclipsed the late Martin Crowe’s long-standing New Zealand test record of 299 and featured in a 352-run stand with BJ Watling — a world record sixth-wicket partnership at the time.
The Brendon McCullum we love
Twenty years of Otago pain was swept away in one whirlwind afternoon when B’Mac went nuclear. He smashed 170 from just 108 balls to help the Volts overhaul Auckland’s total of 310 for seven in the 2007-08 one-day final. It was Otago’s first title in two decades. His hundred came off just 52 balls which was a New Zealand record at the time. He whacked seven sixes and 19 fours in all. It is a bit of a blur now but his profound confidence remains clear. No-one else could have played that innings. No-one.
It’s show time
McCullum took centre stage during the inaugural match of the IPL in 2008. In a savage assault on Bangalore, he pummelled an unbeaten 158. It was an innings which fired the imagination of a cricket-mad nation. It also made McCullum a superstar.
Six or out
McCullum came close to eclipsing Nathan Astle’s remarkable record for the fastest test double century during the Boxing Day test against Sri Lanka in 2014. He had swatted 195 in rapid fashion but was caught at long off trying to bring up the milestone in style. So close but ...
This one’s for Phil
... he is on the list. McCullum has the fifth-fastest test double century so far and it came from an angry place. It was the week Australian cricketer Phil Hughes was struck by a bouncer and subsequently died. McCullum paid tribute with one of his finest knocks. He bashed 11 sixes and 21 fours in a pulsating innings of 202 from 188 balls against Pakistan in Sharjah.
That semifinal
Grant Elliott soaked up the applause shortly after depositing Dale Steyn over the ropes to book New Zealand its first appearance in a World Cup final. His wonderful knock of 84 not out overshadowed what was another tremendous innings full of typical McCullum chutzpah. He set the tone for the chase with 59 from 26 balls. It gave everyone else in the line-up the momentum and belief required.
Two scoops
McCullum’s audacious undefeated 116 against Australia in a T20 in Christchurch in 2010 certainly highlighted his ‘‘no fear’’ approach. Who else would tumble into a suicidal scoop shot to deflect a 155kmh missile from Shaun Tait for six twice in an over. Watching filled you with equal parts exhilaration and terror. Don’t try that one at home folks.
The forgotten double
The year 2014 was so productive for McCullum he actually managed to score a double hundred to set up a win against India at Eden Park and it was forgotten within a week. It was his own fault. He followed up in the second test with an innings which is now permanently etched in New Zealand Cricket folklore. You will find it at the top of this list.
Drought-breaker
Towards the end of 2013 McCullum was contemplating retirement. His back was sore all the time. He had not scored a test century in three years and he had plenty of critics pointing the way to the gallows. But against a struggling West Indies attack at his home venue in Dunedin, he slugged his way back into form with 113 from 134 balls. But he woke to more criticism in the papers the next day and came very close to throwing it all away. Thankfully he forged on.
Blaze of glory
Wherever you were, whatever you were doing, if McCullum was batting, you had to be watching. There was nothing more pressing. That will probably be his most enduring legacy. He was one of the greatest entertainers in the game. So how does a great showman bow out? By clipping the fastest test century in history. It took just 54 balls to bring up his 12th and final hundred in his last test (2016). He went on to reach 145 from 79 balls. Australia won the match but Baz got the standing ovation.
