News

McCullum, the most destructive NZ batsman - McMillan

On a day when Brendon McCullum shattered New Zealand batting records, coach Craig McMillan has described him as the most destructive batsman to have played for his country

Craig McMillan on Brendon McCullum: "I don't think I've got enough superlatives to describe that innings today."  •  Getty Images

Craig McMillan on Brendon McCullum: "I don't think I've got enough superlatives to describe that innings today."  •  Getty Images

On a day when Brendon McCullum shattered New Zealand batting records, coach Craig McMillan has described him as the most destructive batsman to have played for his country.
McCullum's hundred off 74 balls bettered his own record from the last Test match he played, in Sharjah. His innings strike rate of 145.52 was the highest for any innings greater than 150, in matches for which the number of balls have been recorded. He also scored 26 off one Suranga Lakmal over, equaling the New Zealand record that McMillan had himself set, in 2001.
"The man is an x-factor player," McMillan said of McCullum. "He has the ability to dominate and dismantle bowlers and change the tempo and the way an innings is heading very quickly. I think he's the most destructive and domineering player to play for New Zealand, certainly that I've seen.
"I don't think I've got enough superlatives to describe that innings today. I thought it would be hard to beat what he did in Sharjah, which was a pretty special innings as well."
McCullum has had a prolific 2014, in which he has now hit a triple-ton, two double-hundreds and this 195, to amass 1164 runs in the year, at an average of 72.75. Those runs have also come quickly, at a strike rate of over 72, but McMillan suggested it was improved judgement that has seen him transform a Test batting record that had him averaging 35.21 before the start of this year.
"One of the keys to his performance in Test match cricket over the last 12-18 months is the work he's done on his defence. That might sound a little bit crazy when he's belting the ball around the park as he has, but I think he's tightened up in certain areas of his game, and kept the good balls out. When he gets any chance to score - and for McCullum the margins are so small for the bowlers - he really punishes you and makes you pay. We know he plays all around the wicket and has all the shots, but his option-taking, based around a sound defence, has taken his game to another level."
McMillan also reserved praise for James Neesham, who was involved in a 153-run fifth-wicket stand with McCullum, which came from just 117 balls. Neesham went on to make 85 from 80, but had been helped along by McCullum's marathon assault, McMillan said.
"James has been short of runs in that last tour, and today was a really important knock for him, just to see the confidence seeping back into his system. Batting with Brendon almost dragged him along and gave him the confidence to perhaps be a little more expressive.
"It was probably the perfect situation for him to come to the crease and see McCullum at the other end. That just gives you confidence, regardless of how you're playing, when you see someone at the other end make it look so easy, and playing the shots that Brendon was playing. I'm sure in their chat between overs, Brendon would have been relaying confidence to James, just to be nice and proactive, and to show good intent. And I think we saw that from him today. It was a really good innings and one that we needed from him."
New Zealand's 429 for 7 - the fourth highest aggregate amassed on a single day in New Zealand - was lapped up by an 8000 strong Christchurch crowd. McMillan described it as the perfect way to reintroduce the city to Test cricket after an 11-year hiatus, during which the city has been through the trauma of two major earthquakes.
"I think it has to sit right at the top, to be honest. It was a special day. A day of highlights. I think it was the kind of day that this venue and this city deserved, with what they've gone through over the last five years. Even in your wildest dreams you wouldn't have picked a day of Test cricket like that, especially when the pitch is a little on the green side, and you lose the toss early on."
He also expected the surface to retain plenty of spice for when Sri Lanka bat, most likely on the second day. "We saw in that last over from Angelo Mathews that the ball is still seaming. The onus will go on our bowlers to hit the right lengths and attack the stumps. I think right throughout this game, there will be something there for the bowlers. There's going to be pace and carry. The ball didn't swing a lot today, but there's certainly seam movement."

Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo's Sri Lanka correspondent. @andrewffernando