This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/feb/18/brendon-mccullum-triple-century-new-zealand-innings
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Brendon McCullum's triple century caps momentous months for New Zealand | Brendon McCullum's triple century caps momentous months for New Zealand |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| You’ll have heard the story of the 30-something Antipodean making the | You’ll have heard the story of the 30-something Antipodean making the |
| transition from exhilarating but erratic to regular record-breaker, | transition from exhilarating but erratic to regular record-breaker, |
| gallivanting game-changer and marauding match-winner in the space of a summer. | gallivanting game-changer and marauding match-winner in the space of a summer. |
| Mitchell Johnson’s renaissance has been a sight to behold and a triumph for the | Mitchell Johnson’s renaissance has been a sight to behold and a triumph for the |
| dying art he practises. Over the Tasman Brendon McCullum, and the New Zealand | dying art he practises. Over the Tasman Brendon McCullum, and the New Zealand |
| team he so impressively leads, have enjoyed a similarly momentous few months. | team he so impressively leads, have enjoyed a similarly momentous few months. |
| It’s impossible for a batsman to be as instantly devastating as a fast | It’s impossible for a batsman to be as instantly devastating as a fast |
| bowler like Johnson. The sight of blood dripping from Ryan McLaren’s ear on | bowler like Johnson. The sight of blood dripping from Ryan McLaren’s ear on |
| Saturday or Stuart Broad hobbling | Saturday or Stuart Broad hobbling |
| off the Waca with a rearranged foot were reminders that batsmen were fearing as much for their faculties as their | off the Waca with a rearranged foot were reminders that batsmen were fearing as much for their faculties as their |
| wickets. Without the luxuries that Michael Clarke can currently call on, batsmen either send the ball back with interest | wickets. Without the luxuries that Michael Clarke can currently call on, batsmen either send the ball back with interest |
| in the manner that brought Virender Sehwag three Test match triple-centuries, | in the manner that brought Virender Sehwag three Test match triple-centuries, |
| or they grind bowlers into the ground through patience and sheer | or they grind bowlers into the ground through patience and sheer |
| bloody-mindedness, as Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman so famously did 13 years ago | bloody-mindedness, as Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman so famously did 13 years ago |
| in Kolkata. McCullum has built a career on the former school of thought, all | in Kolkata. McCullum has built a career on the former school of thought, all |
| flashing drives through cover and brutal bunts down the ground. | flashing drives through cover and brutal bunts down the ground. |
| This week, however, he’s mellowed. At 11.40am local time on Sunday, he | This week, however, he’s mellowed. At 11.40am local time on Sunday, he |
| strode to the crease with his team three down for 52; 194 in arrears and, with | strode to the crease with his team three down for 52; 194 in arrears and, with |
| a debutant alongside him and a pair of youthful all-rounders to come, staring | a debutant alongside him and a pair of youthful all-rounders to come, staring |
| an innings defeat in the face. | an innings defeat in the face. |
| At 11.50am on Tuesday, 302 runs later, having found a brilliant ally in BJ | At 11.50am on Tuesday, 302 runs later, having found a brilliant ally in BJ |
| Watling and an 11th hour enforcer in Jimmy Neesham, McCullum left the field a | Watling and an 11th hour enforcer in Jimmy Neesham, McCullum left the field a |
| national hero, the first Kiwi triple centurion, shaking hands with every Indian | national hero, the first Kiwi triple centurion, shaking hands with every Indian |
| as he went. From a position of absolute weakness, McCullum found himself able | as he went. From a position of absolute weakness, McCullum found himself able |
| to declare and push for victory. | to declare and push for victory. |
| Such rearguards are not new to Kiwi fans. Few will forget Mark Greatbatch’s | Such rearguards are not new to Kiwi fans. Few will forget Mark Greatbatch’s |
| dig in to for just short of 11 hours to save a draw at Perth in 1989 or Nathan | dig in to for just short of 11 hours to save a draw at Perth in 1989 or Nathan |
| Astle and Danny Morrison, king of the bunnies, defying England in Auckland | Astle and Danny Morrison, king of the bunnies, defying England in Auckland |
| eight years later. This is different, though. McCullum has not just saved the | eight years later. This is different, though. McCullum has not just saved the |
| stalemate, he’s made victory a possibility, too. On a personal level, this is | stalemate, he’s made victory a possibility, too. On a personal level, this is |
| Kiwi cricketing nirvana, as they finally joined the Test 300 club. | Kiwi cricketing nirvana, as they finally joined the Test 300 club. |
| McCullum’s innings was the type that cold, hard numbers simply can’t do | McCullum’s innings was the type that cold, hard numbers simply can’t do |
| justice to. His partnership with Watling was worth 352, the largest ever for a | justice to. His partnership with Watling was worth 352, the largest ever for a |
| sixth-wicket partnership. McCullum faced more deliveries, 559, in a | sixth-wicket partnership. McCullum faced more deliveries, 559, in a |
| single Test innings than any other New Zealander. The lead that they built is | single Test innings than any other New Zealander. The lead that they built is |
| the highest ever by a team facing a deficit of 200 more after the first | the highest ever by a team facing a deficit of 200 more after the first |
| innings. We could go on, and on, and on. | innings. We could go on, and on, and on. |
| There is plenty more to this, though. McCullum battled not just the chronic | There is plenty more to this, though. McCullum battled not just the chronic |
| back injuries that prevent him from keeping wicket, but leg and shoulder | back injuries that prevent him from keeping wicket, but leg and shoulder |
| trouble, too. He battled his own adventurous instincts and he battled a game | trouble, too. He battled his own adventurous instincts and he battled a game |
| situation that appeared hopeless. Upon the arrival of the third new ball, the | situation that appeared hopeless. Upon the arrival of the third new ball, the |
| skipper looked like a marathon runner who’d hit the wall. Neesham farmed the | skipper looked like a marathon runner who’d hit the wall. Neesham farmed the |
| strike but McCullum wasn’t taking it easy at the other end. He ran threes, from | strike but McCullum wasn’t taking it easy at the other end. He ran threes, from |
| his own bat and his partner’s, as hard as he had all innings and still found | his own bat and his partner’s, as hard as he had all innings and still found |
| the boundary, all between uncharacteristic leaves and defensive nurdles that | the boundary, all between uncharacteristic leaves and defensive nurdles that |
| required restraint that few knew he possessed. This Test match has seen him | required restraint that few knew he possessed. This Test match has seen him |
| shorn of his fellow senior citizen and the Black Caps’ finest batsman, Ross | shorn of his fellow senior citizen and the Black Caps’ finest batsman, Ross |
| Taylor. He’s more than made up for his absence. | Taylor. He’s more than made up for his absence. |
| All this from a man who, in his 11th year in the side, looked a player | All this from a man who, in his 11th year in the side, looked a player |
| destined to be remembered for his brilliant eye for a white ball who was too | destined to be remembered for his brilliant eye for a white ball who was too |
| talented to leave out of the Test side, but who’d never really found a settled | talented to leave out of the Test side, but who’d never really found a settled |
| place in it. He’s batted everywhere from No1 to No8 and started the New Zealand | place in it. He’s batted everywhere from No1 to No8 and started the New Zealand |
| summer with six Test tons to his name but questions about whether his | summer with six Test tons to his name but questions about whether his |
| performances justified his place in the side. His appointment as captain was a | performances justified his place in the side. His appointment as captain was a |
| controversial one in the first place, resulting as it did in Taylor’s return to | controversial one in the first place, resulting as it did in Taylor’s return to |
| the rank and file. He has repaid that faith. | the rank and file. He has repaid that faith. |
| He’s book-ended a superb few months with knocks brilliant for their | He’s book-ended a superb few months with knocks brilliant for their |
| polarity. Back in December in Dunedin, he made a typically belligerent century | polarity. Back in December in Dunedin, he made a typically belligerent century |
| against the West Indies in a game that saw another spectacular rearguard to | against the West Indies in a game that saw another spectacular rearguard to |
| deny McCullum’s men a win. In the last fortnight, he’s become only the sixth | deny McCullum’s men a win. In the last fortnight, he’s become only the sixth |
| player to score back-to-back double centuries. In Auckland, the Indians lost | player to score back-to-back double centuries. In Auckland, the Indians lost |
| their way and McCullum and Kane Williamson cashed in. At the Basin Reserve, | their way and McCullum and Kane Williamson cashed in. At the Basin Reserve, |
| that hasn’t been the case. Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma have plugged away, | that hasn’t been the case. Mohammad Shami and Ishant Sharma have plugged away, |
| while Zaheer Khan’s creaking body has still made the ball talk and Ravi Jadeja | while Zaheer Khan’s creaking body has still made the ball talk and Ravi Jadeja |
| was never easy to get away. Never has an innings that lasted two days been | was never easy to get away. Never has an innings that lasted two days been |
| termed “chanceless”, but this wasn’t far off. India dropped him twice but their | termed “chanceless”, but this wasn’t far off. India dropped him twice but their |
| bowlers gave him little. Everything else was sheer graft. | bowlers gave him little. Everything else was sheer graft. |
| Appropriately, he found a little bit of that old brash brutality to bring up | Appropriately, he found a little bit of that old brash brutality to bring up |
| his 100 and his 250 with maximums and 50, 150, 200 and 300 with boundaries. | his 100 and his 250 with maximums and 50, 150, 200 and 300 with boundaries. |
| To top it all off, McCullum leads world cricket’s most likable side. As we | To top it all off, McCullum leads world cricket’s most likable side. As we |
| all know, cricket in New Zealand is a sport consigned to the shadows but they | all know, cricket in New Zealand is a sport consigned to the shadows but they |
| continue to churn out excellent cricketers. They have a new ball pair as | continue to churn out excellent cricketers. They have a new ball pair as |
| skilled as anyone, a classy middle order, a set of fielders seemingly intent on making each one-handed catch more jaw-dropping than the last and a series of debutants ready for | |
| international cricket. The sight of a queue outside the Basin Reserve, the sea | international cricket. The sight of a queue outside the Basin Reserve, the sea |
| of suits hiding the grass bank and the cheers for every pained forward | of suits hiding the grass bank and the cheers for every pained forward |
| defensive tell you the game is alive and well in New Zealand. McCullum is a big part of that. | defensive tell you the game is alive and well in New Zealand. McCullum is a big part of that. |