Big-hitting McCullum lights up Lord's

By Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at Lord's

McCullum delighted the crowd with a series of extraordinary shots

New Zealand, by their own admission, do not have many star names.

But one person guaranteed to put bums on seats is Brendon McCullum.

The wicket-keeper-batsman is fast becoming the new Adam Gilchrist with his swashbuckling batting style.

His stock has risen rapidly in the last few weeks after he delayed his arrival in the UK to turn out for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

In the opening match of the much-hyped tournament, the 26-year-old smashed a record 158 not out from just 73 balls, including 10 fours and 13 sixes - well worth the $700,000 he was bought for at the auction.

He has brought that rich vein of form to the Test arena and against England at Lord's, his batting was the highlight of the first day's play.

He fell just short of having his name etched on the century honours board, hitting a run-a-ball 97, before being bowled by a jubilant Monty Panesar.

But spectators, who had ignored the gloomy weather forecast, were treated to 50-odd overs of cricket on a rain-shortened day.

New Zealand promoted McCullum up the batting order from his usual place at seven to five.

When he gets in that mode, it's hard to tie him down James Anderson on bowling to McCullum

Captain Daniel Vettori explained: "He would have gone higher. We had to pull him down a bit.

"We know he's quite an aggressive player but he has got a good cricketing brain so playing him at five is a good compromise."

And he did not let them down.

He came to the crease with New Zealand's inexperienced top order wobbling.

In the early exchanges the England bowlers seemed to shackle him, or was it McCullum playing a patient and considered game?

"I was happy to play an ugly innings for a period of time as long as we got runs on the board," he said.

It took him 18 balls to hit his first boundary and he reached his ninth Test fifty off 65 balls.

Interestingly, it was his fifth half century against England, and in 33 Tests since making his debut in 2004, he has scored two centuries.

After tea he opened his shoulders up, sensing the England bowlers were tiring after an energy-sapping 34-over opening session which lasted two hours and 40 minutes.

First McCullum smashed Panesar for six and in the next over he gave Stuart Broad the same treatment - to the cheers of the near-capacity crowd.

606: DEBATE McCullum is absolutely an dynamite player RugbySlayer

England bowler James Anderson revealed how tough it was to bowl at McCullum.

"When he gets in that mode, it's hard to tie him down," the Lancastrian said.

"He moves around the crease, is quick on his feet and has got a good eye so he's very tricky to bowl at."

But just as though it seemed he was going to celebrate a first Test century at Lord's, after also falling agonisingly close for 96 in 2004, McCullum missed a straight one from Panesar and his wicket tumbled.

"It's a bitter sweet feeling," he confessed. "I'm disappointed not to have made a hundred but also proud to have made 97 in difficult conditions."

And McCullum said he will not be changing his aggressive style any time soon.

"It takes a lot of bravery at times to play like that as you open yourself up to criticism if it doesn't come off," he said.

"I enjoy playing like that and it gives me a lot of satisfaction, and I think it gives others [those watching] a lot of satisfaction too."