Brendon McCullum not deflated by loss

Brendon McCullum, New Zealand's stand-in captain, is not looking too much into defeat to Pakistan in the first Twenty20. McCullum oversaw a 49-run loss in the first of two fixtures after New Zealand lost Daniel Vettori to a concussion, Kyle Mills to a shoulder injury and Jacob Oram to paternal leave, but was not too crushed at defeat against the world champions.

McCullum's decision to field was prompted to a degree by Australia's capitulation for 108 at the same venue in May, but it proved a costly one as Pakistan raced to 160 thanks largely to the opener Imran Nazir's 38-ball 58. "We looked at the stats and looked at the pitch and thought it might offer some assistance to the bowlers," McCullum said. "I thought it did that - we just didn't execute as well as what we should've with our fourth and fifth bowler. I think 140 was probably a par score."

In their chase, New Zealand were forced to bring on a half-fit James Franklin as a substitute when Aaron Redmond (who didn't come out to bat) picked up a groin strain while bowling. Despite that setback, McCullum said he believed New Zealand could succeed. "You always think it's a chaseable target. If they had got 300 I'd still believe we were capable of winning. 160 was more than what we wanted to give up, it was more than what the par was but I still believed we were going to be a good enough team to chase it down."

McCullum and Martin Guptill helped launch New Zealand's chase by taking 17 off the first over, but within 15 deliveries the innings collapsed to put Pakistan on track for a sixth straight Twenty20 victory. "In Twenty20 that can happen," said McCullum. "You get it a metre either side or you get a bit of luck go your way with some of the other dismissals and you can get some momentum back but unfortunately we happened to find the fielders and nicked the balls.

"The strategy was to consolidate at times but in 20 overs a lot can happen in a short space of time. We needed to consolidate a little better than what we did but I thought they bowled well too."

One positive from the loss was the continued form shown by Tim Southee, who took 3 for 28 from his four overs. "He desperately wants to be a regular member of this team," said McCullum. "And the way he's come back - I thought he bowled brilliantly in the one-dayers as well - and again tonight, he was fantastic. It's a real plus to have a guy like him in your squad."

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NO EXTRA PRESSURE ON US - McCULLUM

It is business as usual for the New Zealand cricket team as they prepare for the three one-day and two Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates without a coach.

Captain Daniel Vettori has taken on the coaching role following the resignation of Andy Moles last week but so far it does not appear to have caused too much disruption since the team's arrival in Abu Dhabi.

"I suppose it is a little bit different," admitted Brendon McCullum. "But we have only had one proper cricket training since we arrived and that went pretty smoothly.

"We have still got some experienced people in and around the team that are certainly able to pass on some good points.

"Whilst we don't directly have a coach at this point the guys seem to be able to operate pretty well and hopefully we can back that up with some results as well."

Despite the fall-out surrounding Moles' decision to step down after losing the confidence of his senior players, McCullum felt there was no extra pressure on the players to perform with the coach gone.

"The decision at the end of the day wasn't the players' in terms of whether Andy stayed or not," he told Radio Sport.

"From our perspective there is always pressure on us to perform and this is no different.

"We've got a job to do as individuals and collectively if we can pull together to get the job done that's the most important thing."

It has been a tough week for McCullum too after losing his position as vice-captain and there is also a continuing debate around whether or not he should remain as an opening batsman in the limited forms of the game.

The 28-year-old confirmed he will continue at the top of the order against Pakistan, although he conceded a return to the role of finisher at six or seven remained a possibility.

"There is always a possibility that things can change and the roles that you play differ at times.

"But in my mind I'm pretty clear about what I want and hopefully if I can do the job then that takes any sort of debate or questioning about the role I have in the team out of play. The ball is firmly in my court as to how that unfolds.

"Obviously last year was a little bit disappointing. As opposition teams tend to do in international cricket they work out ways to be able to counter certain strengths of a player.

"They did that very well last year, now it's back in my hands to counter-punch with a slightly refined and improved game. I'm confident I can do that."

The sides' opening one-day international is on Tuesday.

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McCullum stripped of vice-captaincy

New Zealand will be without a vice-captain and a coach when the squad leave for their limited-over series against Pakistan.

Just a day after the resignation of coach Andy Moles, wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum has confirmed he has been stripped of the role as Daniel Vettori's number two with no replacement being appointed.

"It's disappointing, obviously, in many respects," he told the Herald on Sunday. "But the fact is I can now concentrate on my roles of scoring runs and keeping wickets.
"I still have some fairly big goals I want to achieve for New Zealand, including the captaincy, and this has not changed that."

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said a decision had been made that there was no need for a second-in-charge and instead they want to see senior players such as Kyle Mills, Shane Bond and Jacob Oram taking a more active leadership role.
"Brendon being Brendon, he will lead," Vaughan said. "That's his nature. At the moment he needs to be focusing on several areas but primarily that is around fulfilling his potential with the bat."

It appears no one incident sparked the decision to demote McCullum but he has been in the headlines this southern hemisphere winter, which looks to have done him no favours.

He was the player focused on when the story broke that six players had delayed signing their New Zealand Cricket contracts until they received clarity around how much of the Indian Premier League they would miss as it clashed with Australia's tour of New Zealand.

He was also the player singled out by IPL commissioner Lalit Modi as one trying to "exploit a loophole" despite the fact Vettori, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram, Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor all delayed signing.

That loophole has now been closed so that international players who are playing as free agents without a national contract must also get a no-objection certificate from their home cricket board.

New Zealand leave on Tuesday for three one-day internationals (Abu Dhabi) and two Twenty20s (Dubai) against Pakistan.

The two teams then return to New Zealand for a three-Test series.

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McCullum supports Test tournament

New Zealand's Brendon McCullum is in favour of the proposed annual Test cricket championship.

The MCC World Cricket Council recently put together a proposal where the top eight Test nations would play in series at the same time in November with the top four going onto semi-finals and finals the following September.

The MCC is due to present its case to the International Cricket Council in November.
McCullum believes something needs to be done to ensure Test cricket is not overtaken by the more lucrative Twenty20 competitions.

"It would be good to see some increased status around the Test matches otherwise it could be in danger," he told Radio Sport.

"All the players love playing Test cricket but unless it's protected and maybe its profile is enhanced then it could be in trouble."

The wicketkeeper-batsman also believes with the money available in the Indian Premier League and the increased profile of other Twenty20 competitions around the world that there could be more players who follow a similar course to that of England's Andrew Flintoff.

The all-rounder turned down a central contract with the England and Wales Cricket Board to pursue other short-term contracts following his decision to retire from Test cricket.

"Just the way the game is evolving and the way that the private investors are trying to take some sort of ownership of the game as well, I can see it heading towards that kind of thing," McCullum said.

"I guess it's exciting opportunities for the players but dangerous times for the administrators. But hopefully all will work out for the best and cricket will be at the forefront of people's minds."

He added: "I'm very proud of playing for New Zealand. I'm very proud of what I have achieved so far and hopefully what I can achieve in the future.

"But it's the reality of how the world moves. You would be a fool if you were oblivious to it."

New Zealand are currently preparing for three one-day internationals and two Twenty20s against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates next month.

The Black Caps will then host the same opponents in a three-Test series in New Zealand.

The series was originally scheduled to be played in Pakistan earlier this year but was rearranged following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in March.

New Zealand will also host Bangladesh in February next year before a series against Australia in February and March that includes two Twenty20s, five one-dayers and two Tests.

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Vettori keen to push McCullum down the order

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori has said Brendon McCullum will continue as an opener for the ODI series against Pakistan because Jesse Ryder's absence due to injury meant the opening line-up was already a little shaky. However Vettori said he was keen to push McCullum down the order in future in order to exploit the batting Powerplay.

"The way the game is going [with batting Powerplays], it has become more important to have a guy down the order who can finish your innings off," Vettori was quoted as saying in the Herald on Sunday. "We've fallen over a few times recently in the late stages so that's maybe an option for later in the summer but, at the moment, Brendon's got the opportunity to open against Pakistan."

Vettori said McCullum was keen to play as an opener since it gave him more opportunities to score and win games for New Zealand. "He sees opening as the opportunity to win games for your team 10 out of every 10 times you bat, whereas when you're batting down the order you don't get that many opportunities," Vettori said. "The other thing is that if you look at his record as an opener, it is pretty good. Where the criticism is, that he hasn't turned enough of his starts into centuries and really big scores."

McCullum has averaged 33.20, with one hundred and nine half-centuries, in the 57 matches he has opened for New Zealand.

Vettori, who now holds selection powers along with his captaincy, said there was plenty of debate when picking the squad to play Pakistan in Abu Dhabi next month. "I guess the first thing I've got to point out is that I was just one of four guys on the panel.There was plenty of debate about whether we went with six batsmen or look to fill the position with another allrounder and I was part of the discussions. In that case you've got to remove your personality, or ego, from the argument, but at the same time recognise that my view on it needed to be heard."

Vettori said New Zealand would wait on Ryder's availability for home Test series against Pakistan that follows the ODIs to fill the gap left by Jacob Oram, who announced his decision to retire from the five-day format. "If he's [Ryder] fit, then he can play that extra bowler role, with back-up perhaps from someone like Grant Elliott."

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