‘Baz’ has always had a buzz around him. While Brendon McCullum got the IPL off to a heady start with a swashbuckling century in 2008, he also recorded the fastest Test century in his last international match in February 2016. A phenomenal batsman across formats, the former New Zealand captain spoke about his journey with the IPL.
Q: What do you remember of the 158-run innings?
BM: It was just so long ago but I just remember coming in ...and it was a big show, the first game and never seen anything like it as a New Zealander. Coming into the inaugural IPL, I remember the Indian fans, a packed house in Bangalore, just huge expectations, and the hype and the glitz and the glamour of it all. And then I was so nervous, sort of at the start of the game, and it wasn’t until I just freed up and just went out and tried to play the game - just try and watch the ball and I had to manage to get some great partnerships on the way and made the best of what we got.
Q: We have watched you take bowlers apart in all three formats. How does the batting vary over the three formats seeing as you also finished with the fastest Test century?
BM: There are definitely different nuances to the game, but I think what T20 cricket, and IPL as well, has done is it has freed guys up to be able to play more aggressively in one-day cricket and Test cricket as well. It has flowed into those forms of the game. You have to obviously play differently to the games (formats) over longer periods of time. But (it helps build) a lot of the skills and your ability to play under pressure because in the IPL you play in front of big crowds and there is lot of expectation and that assists you as well for your international cricket.
Q:When T20 began it was perceived as ‘slam-bang’ kind of game. But now we see batsmen taking the matches away with cricketing shots. Can you explain the change?
BM: I think it is up to us to become better players. The skill levels have to go up. We are seeing players develop more shots and bowlers have become smarter as well in how they operate and it just adds in you becoming a better player. I think that pushes up your skill levels and it frees guys up in knowing they can play more aggressively now than they used to they can operate at a higher level of risk which I think T20 has certainly done.
Q: While we saw the likes of Rahul Dravid succeed by playing proper cricketing, we now also see the likes of Virat Kohli and Joe Root win matches playing that way. Your view?
BM: Those guys played at a different level altogether, they are incredible cricketers. I think that it is not just about slamming and bashing the ball. For certain players like me it is; but for genuine good cricketers they can go and back their basics and just play their own game. For a young kid coming in to T20 they need to work out what style of play they want to play, style of player that they want to be and just be real strong all the way through the careers.
Q: What are the challenges to building a new team, especially when there are also more settled outfits around?
BM: Yes, there are going to be challenges but there are also strengths as well because you can start from the ground up. You can come in with fresh ideas and you can build your culture from day one rather than perhaps having a pre-existing culture or even sometimes some poor experiences of the past can also weigh you down as well. So that’s an exciting thing about being part of a new franchise. We have got to go out there and play entertaining cricket, build a really strong support base because of how we play. The way we carry ourselves and the exciting style of cricket that we play, hopefully we go on to win the tournament, but we can’t guarantee that. But what we can guarantee is we can go out there and be nice and positive; play the game for the right reasons and hopefully build a good fan base as well.
