McCullum - History beckons

New Zealand's vice-captain turns up after IPL sojourn

Last updated: 2nd May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

McCullum - History beckons

McCullum: respect for England

It's an opportunity for us to create some more history.

Brendon McCullum
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Brendon McCullum has arrived in England determined to erase memories of the recent Test series defeat to the same opponents at home.

Vice-captain McCullum is one of five members of the touring squad to have missed the opening two warm-up games in order to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition.

But the wicketkeeper flew into Heathrow on Thursday morning and immediately turned his thoughts to the upcoming three-Test rubber with England.

The Black Caps are out for revenge after blowing a 1-0 lead to lose the series at home 2-1 to England in March.

Bitterly disappointed

"Obviously, from 1-0 up in a three-Test series, you're bitterly disappointed to lose," he said.

"But I thought they played some outstanding cricket - particularly the bowlers stepped it up - and we didn't play as well as we could have or should have.

"I thought it was a fantastic Test series - one I'm sure will add to the series we're about to partake in.

"Playing in England is always a challenge - particularly against a team that has just beaten you.

"But it's an opportunity for us to create some more history."

McCullum and the other members of the IPL contingent - skipper Daniel Vettori, Kyle Mills, Jacob Oram and Ross Taylor - are all available for the four-day game against Essex, which starts at Chelmsford on Friday.

New Zealand also play the England Lions in a four-day fixture (May 8-11) prior to the first Test at Lord's (May 15-19).