Big-hitting New Zealand star Brendon McCullum has been hired to open the batting for NSW in Saturday's interstate Twenty20 final against Victoria.
Wicketkeeper McCullum, who will tour with New Zealand next month for a five-match one-day series against Australia, has a big reputation in Twenty20 cricket.
The 27-year-old
blasted the highest individual Twenty20 score during the opening match of the 2008 Indian Premier League (IPL) when he scored 158 not out off just 73 balls.
NSW have already qualified for the Twenty20 Champions League in India this October and McCullum's presence on Saturday will allow him to participate in the Champions League even if his IPL team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, fail to qualify.
Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert was delighted to have landed McCullum.
"Cricket NSW is thrilled to have secured the services of Brendon McCullum," Gilbert said.
"With the potential losses the NSW squad may suffer depending on which two IPL teams qualify for the Champions League, it is vital that we strengthen our squad ahead of that tournament.
"Brendon is one of the most dangerous limited-overs batsman in world cricket and will be a tremendous asset to NSW in terms of his considerable international experience and the match-winning ability he brings."
- AAP
