Brendon McCullum (right) isn't fazed by the height difference with boxer Joseph Parker.
Brendon McCullum (right) isn't fazed by the height difference with boxer Joseph Parker.
McCullum breaks out the gloves for an encounter with Joseph Parker
The little general of the Black Caps was in fighting spirit yesterday as he got in "a few hits" before today's highly anticipated World Cup match against the Aussies at Eden Park.
Skipper Brendon McCullum put down the bat and picked up his boxing gloves to spar at a gym in East Tamaki with heavyweight champ Joseph Parker.
Never mind the height gap.
"How short does he make me look?!," a self-deprecating McCullum laughed, pulling out his phone to show The Diary a pic the pair had snapped at the Pullman Auckland Hotel this week, where both Parker and the Black Caps are staying.
Image 1 of 6: Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker and NZ Cricket Captain Brendon McCullum during a training session. Photo / Andrew Cornaga - Photosport
Parker is 1.92m tall, McCullum a mere 1.71m. But there's no, er, shortage of attacking spirit in McCullum (or "Baz" to his teammates), and while he knows the country is behind him and the Black Caps - especially today - he's keen to show his support to other Kiwi sports stars too.
"I told the wife I wanted to go a few rounds with Joseph before he becomes heavyweight champ of the world," McCullum told The Diary on Thursday night at a party for the Black Caps held by sponsor ANZ Bank.
"He's a great guy and it's good to get in behind one another. I'm taking my gloves, and I'm going to get in a few hits before the match against the Aussies," he laughed.
If it was a stress release, McCullum wasn't giving much away.
Neither are the Aussies. Opening batsman David Warner has been busy posting holiday snaps on social media all week, drinking wine, nibbling cheese and playing tourist not troubled cricketer about to play one of the series' most buzzed-about games.
David Warner and his partner Candice Falzon at Waiheke.
"Great day at Waiheke Island with the wife-to-be Candice Falzon," Warner wrote from Mudbrick Vineyard. "Great to be able to explore our neighbouring country."
"It's just a mind game, the Aussies are in it to win it. They just want to pretend like they're nonplussed," said a New Zealand Cricket board member who asked not to be named.
McCullum has every reason to be nervous today. He has two horses running - one at Ellerslie and one at Kembla Grange, a racecourse south of Sydney. His bloodstock company Vermair Racing - named after his three children - is building quite the reputation in racing circles.
One horse, Passing Shot, in which he has a share with fellow Black Cap Grant Elliott, is one of the favourites to win the BMW Mr Tiz Trophy today at Derby Day.
"He's a good starter," McCullum said. "I have a horse running at Kembla too called No Return. I know, terrible name for a horse."
He says both thoroughbreds are managed by Go Racing.
The Black Caps aren't the only high-profile Kiwis with an interest in the track at Ellerslie today. Former NZ batsman Mark Greatbatch has an ownership in Gifted Lad, while league boss Eric Watson has Princess Michella running in the last race.
Brider saga a little too real for mogul
Cowell's reps say Syco Entertainment is taking the matter 'very seriously'.
boss Simon Cowell happy to share the stage with a convicted killer? Not on your nelly.
Reps for the TV mogul were ducking for cover yesterday when The Diary asked for further comment about how Shae Brider got on the show.
This week, AnnMarie Thomson, global head of communications for UK-based Syco Entertainment - the company owned by Cowell which created The X Factor format - told The Diary: "We have latterly been made aware of the situation and take this matter very seriously. We are currently looking into it with the local producer MediaWorks."
But MediaWorks went to ground yesterday, not returning The Diary's calls.
FremantleMedia Australia, which is co-producing The X Factor NZ with TV3, admits there was a major stuff-up.
Yesterday a spokesman for FremantleMedia Australia and New Zealand said: "A very poor editorial decision was made by producers to include a hurtful backstory in a recent episode of The X Factor NZ. We unreservedly apologise for the pain this has caused.
"Moving forward, we have worked with The X Factor NZ producers to introduce a more rigid approval process designed to ensure such an error can not happen again."
As far as reality shows go, this one is proving too real for Cowell's comfort.
