Brendon McCullum to retire after upcoming Australia series

[Spark]

Hands down. No wuckin furries. We won in the group stages there even though we played horribly.

Yes, by one ball, against a side with no Faulkner, Smith out of position, no Hazlewood, out of form Maxwell, Clarke literally just coming back from a three months injury. None of which were true by the time of the final.

Which is not to say it was impossible, but it was very obvious which was the better side on paper by that point in time.

 

[Hurricane]

Yes, by one ball, against a side with no Faulkner, Smith out of position, no Hazlewood, out of form Maxwell, Clarke literally just coming back from a three months injury. None of which were true by the time of the final.

Which is not to say it was impossible, but it was very obvious which was the better side on paper by that point in time.

Granted.

But three reasons why anyway

1) 40 thousands screaming us on.

2) The Martin Crowe story. Martin has a magical little story about playing Australia at Eden Park in 1992. His head wasn't in the match due to some off field problems. He saw some 12 year old boy 5 minutes before the anthem. "You had better be at your best today Martin". "It shook me out of the fog I was in and I switched on".
When you play in your territory you are more often in the right space for a wide variety of reasons.

3) It gives the captain chances to say speeches that tear the paint off the walls. I have sat in locker rooms where my skip has yelled at us "this is our field. I want the bowlers to own them, no one comes here and scores runs. This is our turf. Own it".

Playing at home is a major psychological advantage.

 

[Bahnz]

Granted I will pay out all those points. However you are not taking on board my points:

How many of those men in black caps had played ever at the MCG or ever in front of 90,000 people.
Most of our batsmen were like deer in the headlights.

We needed time to get used to the occassion. It was always going to be an upset if we defeated Australia in Australia in the final. I think most of us predicted that we would make the final but lose to Australia before it started. Had the final been at Eden Park we would have won.

Perhaps the pressure did get to some of the players (KW in particular). But I don't think that's a reason to avoid taking a specific course of action at the toss, because that pressure would've been there whether we'd been batting 1st or 2nd (and it arguably would've been even worse if the batsmen had come in needing 8 or 9 an over to win).

 

[Spark]

Granted.

But three reasons why anyway

1) 40 thousands screaming us on.

2) The Martin Crowe story. Martin has a magical little story about playing Australia at Eden Park in 1992. His head wasn't in the match due to some off field problems. He saw some 12 year old boy 5 minutes before the anthem. "You had better be at your best today Martin". "It shook me out of the fog I was in and I switched on".
When you play in your territory you are more often in the right space for a wide variety of reasons.

3) It gives the captain chances to say speeches that tear the paint off the walls. I have sat in locker rooms where my skip has yelled at us "this is our field. I want the bowlers to own them, no one comes here and scores runs. This is our turf. Own it".

Playing at home is a major psychological advantage.

Yes, but on the other hand: 1. Mitchell Starc 2. Mitchell Starc 3. Mitchell Starc.

It's kind of impossible to understate what a ridiculous advantage he gave us in that tournament. The rest of the side didn't need to be any more than decent to good around him, the sheer effect he had on the entire bowling attack was enough before he started to uproot stumps for fun.

 

[Hurricane]

Perhaps the pressure did get to some of the players (KW in particular). But I don't think that's a reason to avoid taking a specific course of action at the toss, because that pressure would've been there whether we'd been batting 1st or 2nd (and it arguably would've been even worse if the batsmen had come in needing 8 or 9 an over to win).

Even half an hour of game time would have been enough to acclimatise to the occassion and we could have done that bowling without it costing us the game.

Also bowling involves less decision making than batting (albi not to like that). So there was less chance we were going to be impacted to crowd pressure in the bowling aspect. Just steam in and put it on a length.

 

[Jono]

2003 world cup final

 

[Teja.]

2003 world cup final

Watching the first over of the game as a 8 y/o made me a cynic, atheist and hater of abilities for life. Zak.

 

[wellAlbidarned]

Just steam in and put it on a length.

remember how southee couldn't do this at eden park?

 

[Bahnz]

Anyway, getting back on topic…

The fact that I really need to sit and think about how I feel about McCullum kinda tells its own story. The tricky thing is that there are so many different McCullums. As a limited overs player, he was undoubtedly one of our finest LO bats of all time. And as a wicketkeeper, he would probably still be my first choice in the All-time NZ test, ODI and T20 XI’s.

As a specialist test batsman however, he was more often infuriating than he was brilliant. A part of that was that he was initially miscast as an opener. McCullum’s aggressive nature was always more well-suited to down-hill skiing than it was to laying the foundations. Once the team figured that out he settled in really well to the number 5 position, and then he had his Annus Mirabilis in 2014 when he played 3 divine match-winning innings, and one astonishing record breaking one.

His method caused a lot of frustration because it contributed to any number of crass dismissals. But it also brought astonishing joy, and I feel – for better or for worse – it’s the joy that will endure for me. I’ll forget the horrendous slog that he top-edged off Chameera on Sunday in a few months. I’ll remember his incredible 200 against Pakistan at Dubai for the rest of my life. Perhaps if he’d have tempered his approach more he would’ve scored more hundreds and finished with a 40+ average. But then we probably wouldn’t have the diamond innings that studded his career. I think I probably prefer it this way.

As for his captaincy: I think he made a very good captain through the first 2 years of his tenure, both as a man manager and as a tactician. There were times during the 2015 World Cup when it almost seemed like he had a direct line to the cricketing gods. The way he brought Southee back on, immediately triggering an England lollapse at the Cake-tin was awesome, as was his bowling changes at Eden Park in that bizarre game against Australia (bringing Vettori on in the 7th over, and then bringing Boult back later). Post World-Cup, I think he kinda became a victim of his own success and went a bit mad-scientist with his captaincy. But overall, on balance I appreciated the more aggressive approach he took to field settings and plans.

And as a leader for the team to rally around, he’s probably the finest NZ captain I’ve ever seen (including Fleming). Definitely a player I’ll miss hugely.

 

[Hurricane]

I think as a limited overs captain he was passable and possibly even good. He "got" limited overs cricket.

It was in the test match arena that I regarded him as our worst captain I have personally witnessed. The team will improve in the test match arena as soon as Kane takes over.

I feel compelled to finish with something nice about him in each post so will quickly add that we may never have another limited overs opening batsman like him. Some of the things he did were past the point of what I have dreamed about doing with the bat as a 9 year old. E.g you imagine hitting every second ball for six. He actually did that.

 

[harsh.ag]

Watching the first over of the game as a 8 y/o made me a cynic, atheist and hater of abilities for life. Zak.

Didn't even have the heart to randomly abuse Ponting during that first innings. Legit lost my innocence imo

 

[OverratedSanity]

Watching the first over of the game as a 8 y/o made me a cynic, atheist and hater of abilities for life. Zak.

Our family had just moved into our new home the day before and our old tv crapped the bed and refused to start. We went out and got a new one and got it started 20 minutes before the game began. All that effort and anticipation...

 

[SteveNZ]

That dismissal gets so much attention as well. Casual fans always point to that as the main reason nz lost. Conveniently forgetting that NZ recovered wonderfully and we're 150/3 or something with 15 overs left. They were very well placed to get 275+. The collapse thereafter, especially the Faulkner over is what cost them. Always infuriates me when some dumb **** fan says McCullum's shot single handedly lost the final.

I maintain it was the wrong way to play that first over, but in no way would I ever suggest we lost or posted a poor total because of it. Going into that powerplay we had 250 in our sights quite easily, and a desperately unlucky Ross dismissal turned the tides as you say.

 

[OverratedSanity]

I maintain it was the wrong way to play that first over, but in no way would I ever suggest we lost or posted a poor total because of it. Going into that powerplay we had 250 in our sights quite easily, and a desperately unlucky Ross dismissal turned the tides as you say.

Yeah, just want to make it clear I didn't mean anyone here when I said "dumb **** fans". That referred to most of the people I speak to on a daily basis.

 

[Flem274*]

Going back to crazy baz, good ir bad? I always felt he was at his best when he was knocking around singles. He is excellent at finding gaps.

Yes, by one ball, against a side with no Faulkner, Smith out of position, no Hazlewood, out of form Maxwell, Clarke literally just coming back from a three months injury. None of which were true by the time of the final.

Which is not to say it was impossible, but it was very obvious which was the better side on paper by that point in time.

Hurricane argued terribly.

Eden park is a swing bowlers delight but punishes wayward or short bowling. Australia would have needed Starc to take 6fer, and there's a good chance he would have. Faulkner and Maxwell? Cannon fodder with bat and ball if NZ pitched it up and no way was Faulkner in particular bowling well there.

It's a ground almost rigged in favour of NZ really. Front foot game, short balls are usually easy to pull or hook and it swings miles. 50/50 at worst for NZ.

 

[Athlai]

Going back to crazy baz, good ir bad? I always felt he was at his best when he was knocking around singles. He is excellent at finding gaps.

Hurricane argued terribly.

Eden park is a swing bowlers delight but punishes wayward or short bowling. Australia would have needed Starc to take 6fer, and there's a good chance he would have. Faulkner and Maxwell? Cannon fodder with bat and ball if NZ pitched it up and no way was Faulkner in particular bowling well there.

It's a ground almost rigged in favour of NZ really. Front foot game, short balls are usually easy to pull or hook and it swings miles. 50/50 at worst for NZ.

He wouldn't have needed to take a 6fer, his 2 wicket haul in the MCG match was enough to wreck us. He knocked over our talisman and then he battered the rest of our top order into a shell, and when we looked to launch he came back and kicked us in the teeth. Australia would have been favored in any final and the difference would be the coming of the 2015 version of Starc.

This year he was the best bowler by a considerable margin.

****ing asshole. ONE TIME AUSTRALIA. ONE TIME. JUST ONE WORLD CUP. ONE TEST SERIES. BUT Noooooooooooo. A new fricken cricketing great.

I hate you all.

 

[Skyliner]

That dismissal gets so much attention as well. Casual fans always point to that as the main reason nz lost. Conveniently forgetting that NZ recovered wonderfully and we're 150/3 or something with 15 overs left. They were very well placed to get 275+. The collapse thereafter, especially the Faulkner over is what cost them. Always infuriates me when some dumb **** fan says McCullum's shot single handedly lost the final.

From the time of McCullum's hari kari in the first over, the strong stench of death hung thickly over the NZ innings like a black pall. We had anti-momentum, our sun had imploded. No-one will ever know the pressure McCullum was under walking out in front of that huge crowd with millions watching on TV, but I believe he couldn't cope; he spontaneously combusted and imploded. Kane came and went like a deer in the headlights in the aftermath. We sat on the couch at home stunned and numb.
I never felt NZ had momentum in that innings. Ross was scratching around and surviving, and Elliot was scrapping, full of pride and desperate to give the innings some respectability. This was 2 old stagers mounting a desperate and forlorn last stand. There was no control, there was no command. I remember an Elliot top edge going streakily for 6, Taylor looked desperately out of touch and hanging on by his fingernails.
Once Taylor was out, the bleeding that had been temporarily staunched continued unabated. There were more deer in headlights dismissals from the likes of Anderson and Ronchi. Tame, meek, mild submission.
The loss of McCullum after 3 balls killed the NZ innings stone dead. The manner of the dismissal, the manner in which he played those 3 balls....it haunted the whole innings, haunted the dressing room.

The thing about it is that Taylor and Elliot had already done so much to win the semi-final. McCullum got us off to a rollicking start, we had momentum. We had a semblance of control. The innings had positive energy. He is unable to make the mid-innings switch that Astle could. Astle knew the value of his wicket, the value of every extra wicket in hand. And so once McCullum was out, there was still much to do. Control began to be lost. Taylor out of form but fighting hard. Taylor and Elliot kept us there or there abouts. Then Elliot through herculean efforts got us over the line.

 

[Skyliner]

What will the NZ media do once Baz is gone? He is their sun, set to burn out. Baz, Baz, Baz, Baz the papers scream daily. The cult of personality.

Today on Stuff its:

Baz 'put NZ on the map'
Shot Baz, that's the Spirit
McCullum joining Middlesex
Test goals burn brightly for Baz
Williamson a genius - BMac
McCullum's to bow out at Hagley Oval
Baz 'the Mike Tyson of cricket'

 

[Athlai]

From the time of McCullum's hari kari in the first over, the strong stench of death hung thickly over the NZ innings like a black pall. We had anti-momentum, our sun had imploded. No-one will ever know the pressure McCullum was under walking out in front of that huge crowd with millions watching on TV, but I believe he couldn't cope; he spontaneously combusted and imploded. Kane came and went like a deer in the headlights in the aftermath. We sat on the couch at home stunned and numb.
I never felt NZ had momentum in that innings. Ross was scratching around and surviving, and Elliot was scrapping, full of pride and desperate to give the innings some respectability. This was 2 old stagers mounting a desperate and forlorn last stand. There was no control, there was no command. I remember an Elliot top edge going streakily for 6, Taylor looked desperately out of touch and hanging on by his fingernails.
Once Taylor was out, the bleeding that had been temporarily staunched continued unabated. There were more deer in headlights dismissals from the likes of Anderson and Ronchi. Tame, meek, mild submission.
The loss of McCullum after 3 balls killed the NZ innings stone dead. The manner of the dismissal, the manner in which he played those 3 balls....it haunted the whole innings, haunted the dressing room.

The thing about it is that Taylor and Elliot had already done so much to win the semi-final. McCullum got us off to a rollicking start, we had momentum. We had a semblance of control. The innings had positive energy. He is unable to make the mid-innings switch that Astle could. Astle knew the value of his wicket, the value of every extra wicket in hand. And so once McCullum was out, there was still much to do. Control began to be lost. Taylor out of form but fighting hard. Taylor and Elliot kept us there or there abouts. Then Elliot through herculean efforts got us over the line.

Bugger off we were 3/150 with 15 to go. McCullum did SFA, it was Starc who halted our momentum. Guptill wasn't a deer in headlights because McCullum went, it was because Starc was bowling thunderbolts. I remember being glad at the time that Williamson and Guptill made it through the initial spell because it honestly felt like Starc would scythe through us. Instead we managed to hold out, and Taylor and Elliott managed to build that platform as risk free as they could.

We then completely and utterly failed in launching. Anderson and Wonky's ducks were more painful TBH.

 

[Flem274*]

Faulkner did the damage in the final, not starc. 3/150 after 30 was The Plan in that era.

At Eden Park Starc would have been a weapon, but finch and the lower icing would have surprised had they done something against boult and co in those conditions. Smith, Warner and Clarke would have been so much more important than they were at home.

All ifs and buts though. Australia won, it happens. I just wish I could write like skyliner. Those descriptions!