Mark Richardson: Spell in no-man's land may be valuable lesson in reality

What to do with Brendon McCullum? Here is a capable cricketer if you go by statistics; a brilliant cricketer if you'd rather watch the highlights.

He's been on the scene for seven years now, his selection is unquestioned, he's senior and, for all intents and purposes, the next in line to the captaincy.

Yet for some reason, he's been cast into some sort of no-man's land, with question marks over his performance as a player and leader.

We hear he will deputise for Daniel Vettori should Vettori get injured and yet he will no longer be officially regarded as the vice-captain.

He will continue to open in the United Arab Emirates but, arguably, only because any other options are deemed to be too inexperienced to be paired together.

There is no doubt the disestablishment of the vice-captaincy is designed as a kick in the posterior for McCullum but how hard a kick is it?

The official line is that because of poor recent results, he has been relieved of senior responsibilities.

This will reduce the load and allow him to concentrate on his batting at the top of the order.

If that is the case, then it is his second warning, given he has had the wicketkeeping gloves taken from him in recent history for the same reason.

However, that decision sounded as if it was a bit more mutual than the latest one.

Of more concern is the reported insinuation that his demotion is because his contribution within the dressing room is not as desired.

So what in the heck has he been saying? Surely a player as senior as the vice-captain should be rather vocal.

Is this simply a case of a good young player getting too big too soon and an ego that needs reeling in?

Is it a message to say either put up or shut up?

Does it hint that those who may not see things quite like Vettori and/or Glenn Turner are headed for the high jump?

Or has he simply been offering nothing and just caring for himself?

Personally, I view it as the former.

My experience with McCullum says to me he is a highly ambitious player.

He desires stardom, which he has achieved to some extent. But maybe the razzmatazz of the cricket world of late has seen him portrayed as one of the world's top cricketers when, in reality, he is some way from that just yet.

He may have personally bought into the hype that surrounds him.

If his demotion is a gentle nudge toward reality, then let's hope it hits home.

A proper kick in the butt would have seen McCullum dropped down the order and another candidate handed the official title of vice-captain. This has not happened.

Maybe that is because McCullum's ego needs to be managed carefully.

The last thing we need is for him to thumb his nose at New Zealand Cricket and say: Who needs it? We need him, that's who needs it.

I have faith that we will see the best of McCullum again because my experience also says here is a player who wants to win cricket games and win them for New Zealand.

Let's hope this reminder that no one is bigger than the team will prove one of McCullum's best learning experiences.