Brendon McCullum: New Zealand captain is special human being, says Bob Willis

Special human being” Brendon McCullum has been the catalyst for New Zealand’s stunning year, says Sky Sports pundit Bob Willis.

Black Caps skipper McCullum has guided his team to Test series wins at home to India and in West Indies in 2014, while New Zealand are now in pole position to wrap up another victory after thumping Sri Lanka in Christchurch in the first of two Tests.

McCullum has also prospered personally during the last 12 months, recording innings of 224, 302, 202 and 195 across his nine Tests to become the first New Zealander to post 1,000 runs in a calendar year.

“He is a wonderful talent who puts the opposition on the back foot.

“I think he is a very special human being,” Willis said of McCullum, who has only been outscored in Tests this year by Sri Lanka duo Kumar Sangakkara (1,493 runs) and Angelo Mathews (1,317) and Pakistan’s Younis Khan (1,213).

“He was a trailblazer in the IPL when he scored the first century in that tournament and he has brought that kind of attacking batting into Test matches, while he is also an inspirational leader.

“He is a wonderful talent who puts the opposition on the back foot and has helped New Zealand have their best year, which is some going considering they had the likes of Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe in the 1980s.

“McCullum also has a very handy opening bowling attack with Trent Boult and Tim Southee and even though they lack a quality spinner and third bowler, the batting is pretty strong so New Zealand are on the up.”

Maverick

McCullum wowed with the bat during the first Test with Sri Lanka in Christchurch, plundering 195 from 134 balls in an innings which included 18 fours and 11 sixes, narrowly missing out on what would have been the fastest Test double hundred in history.

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But former Glamorgan spinner Robert Croft has also been enamoured by the 33-year-old’s skills as skipper, comparing McCullum to former Black Caps leader Stephen Fleming.

“His attitude to cricket has rubbed off and he reminds me a little of Fleming with his approach to captaincy,” Croft added of McCullum.

“You can tell that he has a feel for the whole game, not just his own, and he senses when to go on the offensive and pull out maverick field placings.

“He is an aggressive, make-a-difference captain, not someone who drifts through games, and he commands respect.”

See if McCullum can propel New Zealand to another series win by watching the second Test between The Black Caps and Sri Lanka, from 10pm on Friday on Sky Sports 2.