***Official*** New Zealand Domestic Season 2007/08

[Smudge]

I played cricket with and against the McCullum brothers for 10 years. If I had to have a beer with either of them, it'd be Brendon. Nathan has matured a little bit too, but Brendon's settled down massively since the end of high school.

 

[Flem274*]

Funnily enough, his ego is a little bit cringe-worthy as is the bollocks he talks behind the stumps. I will admit though, that I have not had a conversation with McCullum, though I've been in the room with him a couple of times. A mate of mine who played top level club cricket in Dunedin (until he moved to Wellington) informs me that he's a ****, but that his brother's alright (I think they played soccer together).

He also pisses me off with all the cheap gamesmanship. Running out Murali when congratulating the other Sri Lankan is one thing, but he did the same to Chris Martin's rival for World's Worst Batsman - Chris Mpofu when he congratulated his partner on making a 50. Not only was this completely unnecessary, but the Run Out steals a wicket from the bowler. I'd have been absolutely livid if I'd been on 4 wickets and Mpofu could have been number 5. As it was, in that game Bond had 4 wickets when Mpofu was dismissed.

The batsman scoring his 50 was Mahwire and New Zealand only won by an Innings and 46. Personally, given the circumstances I'd have let Mpofu off (who, lets be honest, can't have been in that situation very often and may well have not known the rules, unlike Murali)

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/zimbabwe/engine/match/216055.html

I'm sure the batsmen among you won't agree with me at all, but I'd have been livid if I were Shane Bond at that. Imagine if he stole your first test fiver from you?

By the way, I don't mean to rain on McCullum's parade after his innings today, but I've been asked to explain what I'd thought to be a throwaway comment. Top batting from the guy today.

Hmm. Don't mind a bit of ego during the game (you should see mine). Off field egos annoy me though. The gamesmanship I don't mind either, its a grey area but I like to see a guy always on his toes to gain an advantage for his side.

I'm a bowler so I'd agree about being livid.

McCullum does strike me as a bloke who would have been a little **** at school, obviously I don't know this its just a gut feeling so I'm not going to put some definites on it. He seems fine now, I think being a senior player would have helped him mature a bit.

Yeah it was a throwaway comment but I hate seeing people pass a character judgement on an individual they don't/barely know based on relatively nothing, happens too often IMO, was just hoping you hadn't stooped down to that level. Personally passing judgement based on taking wickets off a bowler is a bit harsh. Calm yourself Heath

 

[Perm]

Aren't we meant to be happy that our top level sportsman are ruthless and will do everything within their power (and the rules in this case) to win. Who the **** cares if Bond didn't get a wicket? What would have happened if McCullum didn't do it, and then the last wicket put on 50 or something. Personally I think it's ridiculous to criticise a sportsman or sportswoman for being a fierce competitor, which McCullum quite clearly is.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Aren't we meant to be happy that our top level sportsman are ruthless and will do everything within their power (and the rules in this case) to win. Who the **** cares if Bond didn't get a wicket? What would have happened if McCullum didn't do it, and then the last wicket put on 50 or something. Personally I think it's ridiculous to criticise a sportsman or sportswoman for being a fierce competitor, which McCullum quite clearly is.

Agree. McCullum has this 'Australian' aura around him. Ultra-competitive, aggressive, confident. It works for Australia.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

Personally I think it's ridiculous to criticise a sportsman or sportswoman for being a fierce competitor, which McCullum quite clearly is.

Disagree. If you want to be a **** all your life, then that's your prerogative. But don't drag the rest of your team or the reputation of your country down with you. I realise that its not tea parties and cakes out there, but neither should the spirit of the game be totally pissed over at every available opportunity. If you want to see the name of the game and our country be pulled through the mud, then don't criticise him - and I'm more than happy for you to do this.

Personally, if I'd been captaining that day, I'd have called Mpofu back; certainly under the circumstances of that game.

 

[Matt52]

Agree. McCullum has this 'Australian' aura around him. Ultra-competitive, aggressive, confident. It works for Australia.

I would rather him be a good ambassador for the country than have a win at all costs attitude". Losing with a bit of dignity always trumps winning by bending the rules a little.

 

[Flem274*]

Aren't we meant to be happy that our top level sportsman are ruthless and will do everything within their power (and the rules in this case) to win. Who the **** cares if Bond didn't get a wicket? What would have happened if McCullum didn't do it, and then the last wicket put on 50 or something. Personally I think it's ridiculous to criticise a sportsman or sportswoman for being a fierce competitor, which McCullum quite clearly is.

AWTA.

Though its ironic that the statement above is coming from the person who has a cry when Vettori gets mad when people drop catches off his bowling.

 

[Smudge]

I'm sorry, but I couldn't care less how fresh Chris Mpofu was to the international scene. Whether he was in his first or second test or, like Murali, well past the 100 mark, that doesn't give you an excuse to indulge yourself in a particularly stupid piece of cricket. And quite frankly McCullum shouldn't discriminate between teams in the international arena.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

Southee bowling beautifully today. Both fours from his bowling went through the slips

 

[Bahnz]

Andrew de Boorder making his debut for Auckland and making a pretty good fist of it. Another player to watch, he was easily our best batsman when the Indian U19's toured last year.

 

[Bahnz]

Good day for the de Boorder brothers. Both Andrew and Derek picking up 50's.

 

[Blakey]

Andrew de Boorder making his debut for Auckland and making a pretty good fist of it. Another player to watch, he was easily our best batsman when the Indian U19's toured last year.

Wow Andrew's U19 average is massive. Are they both middle order batsmen or all rounders?

 

[thierry henry]

Seriously, McCullum has turned into a run scoring machine.

A run-scoring machine would probably have made at least one international century (Bangers and Zimbots don't count), in ANY form of the game, over a 6 year career.

A smart-arse big-noter who rates himself but struggles to average 30- sorry, that's not an "Australian attitude", that's classic New Zealand.

(I'm a fan of McCullum and desperate to see such a talent succeed, but surely you see my point...)

 

[Bahnz]

Wow Andrew's U19 average is massive. Are they both middle order batsmen or all rounders?

Derek is a keeper. Andrew is a specialist batsman.

 

[Matt52]

A run-scoring machine would probably have made at least one international century (Bangers and Zimbots don't count), in ANY form of the game, over a 6 year career.

)

I think its pretty hard to score an odi century betting at 7. Its only recently, hes had a decent shot at it. And in tests, he seems to be getting better, I think the point was that , recently he has become a run scoring machine.

 

[Somerset]

I think its pretty hard to score an odi century betting at 7. Its only recently, hes had a decent shot at it. And in tests, he seems to be getting better, I think the point was that , recently he has become a run scoring machine.

Yeh was just about to say the same thing, especially in ODIs. Also remember in test matches on the few occasions he was promoted he made some decent contributions, 96 against England in 2004 comes to mind. Either way hes still young and only now beginning to show his massive potential and influence for his side. I'll say that by the next World Cup he'll have at least five centuries against opposition other than Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

I think its pretty hard to score an odi century betting at 7. Its only recently, hes had a decent shot at it. And in tests, he seems to be getting better, I think the point was that , recently he has become a run scoring machine.

Yep. Pretty hard to fill those betslips in wearing gloves and holding a bat. Even Voltman couldn't make a profit on the Trots under those conditions.

 

[Smudge]

Yep. Pretty hard to fill those betslips in wearing gloves and holding a bat. Even Voltman couldn't make a profit on the Trots under those conditions.

0800 10 20 30 FTW...

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

0800 10 20 30 FTW...

I just tried dialling that number wearing cricket gloves. I somehow got through to a *** chat line. Must have pressed my speed dial number by mistake. Told you its hard to bet wearing cricket gloves.

 

[Mixmasterreece]

A run-scoring machine would probably have made at least one international century (Bangers and Zimbots don't count), in ANY form of the game, over a 6 year career.

A smart-arse big-noter who rates himself but struggles to average 30- sorry, that's not an "Australian attitude", that's classic New Zealand.

(I'm a fan of McCullum and desperate to see such a talent succeed, but surely you see my point...)

Do you ever have anything positive to say about any NZ players?