sport news Brendon McCullum can help England rediscover their best form, says Ian Smith trends now
For Ian Smith, proof of Brendon McCullum’s place in the New Zealand pantheon came on an otherwise normal Tuesday morning in February 2014, as his team prepared for the final day of the second Test against India at Wellington’s Basin Reserve.
The game was heading for a draw, but McCullum was 281 not out overnight, and closing in on his country’s first Test triple-century. A nation tuned in for a moment of history.
‘There was a queue outside the ground of guys in suits from the Central Business District,’ says Smith, once New Zealand’s wicketkeeper, now the country’s foremost cricket broadcaster. ‘They knew full well they might only see half an hour. But they were there early to watch him get his triple. He packed grounds. He was immensely popular.’
Brendon McCullum hit a triple-century against India in 2014 in the longest format of the game
McCullum has now been placed in charge of trying to turn England's Test fortunes around
McCullum eventually fell for 302, having batted for 12 hours 55 minutes - a weighty counterpoint to the argument that he was always at his best in pursuit of quick runs. Perhaps just as importantly, the innings confirmed New Zealanders’ suspicions that they had another homegrown legend on their hands, a figure to rank with Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe.
Now, McCullum’s first task as England’s new Test coach will be to repel his compatriots, led by Kane Williamson, in a three-match series starting at Lord’s on June 2. Pride back home at his appointment is tinged with uncertainty. How will New Zealanders react?
‘We never saw this coming,’ says Smith. ‘And now his first job is to beat us! We’re not too used to that. We’ve seen it with rugby, because Steve Hansen and Graham Henry have both coached Wales. But we weren’t too bothered about that, because Wales weren’t beating the All Blacks - and neither of them were former players.
‘Brendon McCullum is a brilliantly regarded and well-performed player for New Zealand. That’s how people want him to be remembered. Now he could coach England first up to victory over New Zealand. The TV ratings for this series were already going to be good. Now they’re going to be very good. Fans here are going to be following McCullum in a new way.
Ian Smith has admitted he was surprised to see McCullum get the coaching role with England
England are set to take on Kane Williamson's New Zealand side next month over three matches
‘The other thing a lot of people will ask is why he’s not coach of New Zealand. But our coach, Gary Stead, has done one hell of a job. I don’t think Brendon’s even contemplated coaching New Zealand.’
Smith, who played the last of his 63 Tests in 1992, knows McCullum well. The two men have done separate three-hour shifts on the radio station SENZ, and Smith was expecting his friend to return
