Former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum thinks patriotic cricket followers will forgive him for teaching England towards New Zealand, so long as the 2 sides ship an entertaining conflict.
“I guess so,” he advised reporters in Hamilton on Thursday when requested if it felt odd to put on England’s cricket package in his native New Zealand, “but it’s nice to be here”.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge in front of us with New Zealand.”
The 41-year-old retired from Test cricket in 2016 having scored almost 6,500 runs for New Zealand in 101 Tests, together with 12 centuries.
Born in Dunedin on the backside of New Zealand’s South Island, McCullum has loved a dream begin since taking up as England coach final May.
He helped engineer a house sequence win towards South Africa plus a clear sweep of three Tests in Pakistan.
There was additionally a well-known Test win towards India at Edgbaston final July, when England chased down a file 378 whereas dropping simply three wickets — in addition to a 3-0 sequence win over New Zealand on English soil final June.
“It’s been a good start, definitely. Results have been great,” McCullum stated.
Next up is his first tour in New Zealand as England coach with two Tests towards the Black Caps, beginning at Mount Maunganui subsequent Thursday earlier than a second in Wellington the next week.
McCullum, as soon as one of many recreation’s most entertaining gamers, doesn’t count on a hostile reception from the Kiwi crowds.
“It should be alright, I would think. Obviously people are patriotic.
“Even if sometimes your own team doesn’t win, you still walk away knowing you have had a hell of a day out.
“Hopefully that will be the case during this series.”
New Zealand host England with new captain Tim Southee taking cost in his first residence sequence since Kane Williamson stood down as skipper.
Williamson will go face to face with England captain Ben Stokes in a extremely anticipated conflict between two of the world’s greatest batters.
McCullum described Stokes as “the sort of guy who writes his own scripts and achieves some pretty special things”.
The Black Caps drew two Tests towards Pakistan in January, however managed just one victory from six limited-overs video games towards India earlier this yr.
McCullum was filled with reward for Southee, who he performed alongside for the Black Caps.
“We know New Zealand will be very good in these conditions, Tim will be creative, as he always is, and I look forward to seeing how we respond to that.”
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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