Is criticism of Brendon McCullum justified?

[straw man]

Yes Blocky please focus your future posting on this thread:
http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/61867-official-australia-south-africa-2013-14-a-202.html

 

[benchmark00]

Please watch more cricket in March*

 

[Howsie]

Is the criticism of Brendon McCullum justified? Hmmmm, watch his first innings dismissal and tell me it isn't. Fair play to the guy, he's just played one of the best knocks I've seen by a New Zealander. But still, he's a waste of pure cricketing talent.

 

[Dan]

The criticism always came from everyone being frustrated that a man of his obvious cricketing talent proceeded to be so mediocre for so much of his career. Much like the Mitchell Johnson criticism for many years - so bloody inconsistent while everyone knew what he could do on his day.

This kind of innings probably makes the past criticism all the more justified - he's played a brilliant knock under pressure, with every possible circumstance set against him (short of bowling attack quality).

The past five Tests suggest he is either in a rich vein of form right now, or he's turning a corner as a batsman. Not dissimilar to Johnson coming out of the Ashes - the chosen one finally repaying the faith in his talent. This kind of turnaround doesn't make the earlier criticism any less valid though - he should have been able to play quality innings far more often than he has, especially between the India double ton and the start of this summer.

 

[Garson007]

If he declares overnight he'll rightfully get lambasted.

 

[Flem274*]

I think Dan has nailed it. It's a shame he's only come on in what could be his last 12 months in tests. There's been noises for a while now that his back could go at any time and I suspect he'll be targeting a home world cup success as a nice time to bow out. A shame if he doesn't last much longer now he's batting like he is. Hopefully he can get 10 test hundreds but I don't think he'll average 40. That would take a prolonged period of scoring a gajillion runs.

Hopefully he holds his body together for another couple of years though. He could well have the dual accolades of our best keeper batsman to date and a good and versatile test specialist batsman in his own right if he keeps this going.

edit: you can tell he wants to lead by example so much too. this entire innings has basically said "you will square this series over my rotting corpse you bastards."

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Worst timed thread in recent CW history?

Same as the Steyn is past it one then he tore through the side next innings.

For the record McCullum is a bit like Pietersen, talent there but the modes of dismissal infuriate so much and you feel he hasn't made enough of his undoubted ability. Maybe now he is captain this is changing.

 

[Garson007]

For the record McCullum is a bit like Pietersen, talent there but the modes of dismissal infuriate so much and you fell he hasn't made enough of his undoubted ability. Maybe now he is captain this is changing.

Which is /exactly/ why Pietersen should have been made captain after the Ashes, instead of dropped.

 

[OverratedSanity]

Same as the Steyn is past it one then he tore through the side next innings..

That was a sarcastic one wasn't it?

 

[flibbertyjibber]

That was a sarcastic one wasn't it?

Maybe but it was bloody funny.

 

[indiaholic]

That was a sarcastic one wasn't it?

Yeah sarcastic. Doesn't count.

 

[Bahnz]

I think Dan has nailed it. It's a shame he's only come on in what could be his last 12 months in tests. There's been noises for a while now that his back could go at any time and I suspect he'll be targeting a home world cup success as a nice time to bow out. A shame if he doesn't last much longer now he's batting like he is. Hopefully he can get 10 test hundreds but I don't think he'll average 40. That would take a prolonged period of scoring a gajillion runs.

I like to think that McCullum will stick around for at least another couple of years. He makes pretty good coin as the New Zealand captain - probably pushing $350k when you factor in all the match fees that he gets from ODI's and T20's, and he's no longer an IPL mega-star. There's also the lure of the home-away series v Australia in 2015/16 the home leg of which in particular could be a cracker - especially if Harris and Haddin have farted off into retirement and Johnson loses his radar again. Finally, he's actually finally a part of a winning side after spending the first 8 years of his test career as a star player of world cricket's easy beats. I think he'd like to continue building this NZ team into one of the greatest ever.

 

[lockton2skipper]

not to many suggesting brendon should be sacked as captain, thrown out of the team to accomadate jesse ryder now is there ?

 

[Flem274*]

I actually think Jesse's latest disgrace hurts us pressure wise. It's always nice as a fan to have a bloke in the wings who you know is really good depth and keeps the current eleven honest.

Not saying the current team were or are lax, but competition for spots is always good.

 

[lockton2skipper]

slightly off topic but similar, how far is jeets off a recall for when you really need a frontline spinner ?

 

[Bahnz]

slightly off topic but similar, how far is jeets off a recall for when you really need a frontline spinner ?

I hate to say it, but I heavily doubt Jeets will ever get selected for New Zealand again. At least not without a string of injuries to New Zealand's other fringe spinners.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

I actually think Jesse's latest disgrace hurts us pressure wise. It's always nice as a fan to have a bloke in the wings who you know is really good depth and keeps the current eleven honest.

Not saying the current team were or are lax, but competition for spots is always good.

Helps you have talented youngsters like Anderson and Neesham though, find another young player who can bat in top 6 and Ryder is long forgotten. For all Ryder's talent he lacked hunger which the new lads seem to have. You have almost gone back to being the old New Zealand with a hugely promising talented bunch of youngsters, just need to find an opener or two and you will have one of the best sides in the world.

 

[hendrix]

Latham is that opener.

Still think Anderson has a wee way to go before he's a proper test number 6, but if we keep Neesham at 8 and with Watling better than a test 7, it shouldn't matter.

 

[Flem274*]

We're no more than middling unless we find two openers and a spinner quick smart. We're also miles better at home than away.

 

[hendrix]

I'm quite happy for us to only play a spinner (whoever it is, Sodhi, Patel, Craig I don't care) in the subcontinent. Even in our win against SL the spinner only took one wicket IIRC, and our bowlers are far more capable with the old ball now than they were then. 4 pacers should be the default, so the lack of spinner shouldn't be a huge issue. SA got to number 1 without one.