Cricket: Test success a much needed boost for team and captain

New Zealand's last test win was under Ross Taylor's leadership last year. Photo / AP

Brendon McCullum can't buy a break right now.

The New Zealand skipper, sorely in need of runs to bolster his captaincy and self-confidence, turned out in a one-day club game for Albion in Dunedin on Saturday.

It seemed a good opportunity against gentle opposition, a chance to get his eye in. He made eight.

Still, McCullum is determined to dig his way out of a trough and has resolved to rediscover the touch which made him among the world's most effective, aggressive batsmen.

"I know my test performances haven't been up to standard of late," he said yesterday. "Couple that with the slight injury and you start to have some pretty dark thoughts, but when I took over this job I had some big visions for this team and how I fitted into that. That certainly hasn't changed. Just because you go through a few tough times doesn't mean you should change your goals.

"I'm very determined to lead this team strongly from the front. And that starts with performance."

McCullum said his back, which is an ongoing issue involving protruding discs, is "all right".

"It's a little bit stiff but it's a good opportunity to try and lead from the front captaincy-wise as well.

"I'm very determined to put my back aside and try and perform for my team."

Getting a maiden test win as skipper would help not only McCullum but the entire group.

New Zealand's last test win, as the players need no reminding, was the final game under Ross Taylor's leadership, a 167-run victory in Sri Lanka late last year.

That was 10 tests ago. A win would lift the players and help them believe they are on the right track.

"While you always want results, and that's ultimately how you are judged, you have to look at how we've been playing and we've actually played some pretty good cricket over the last little while."

In those nine tests, McCullum has averaged 29.6, compared to his overall average in 79 tests of 34.9

The West Indies may seem a good match for New Zealand - two teams around the middle of the test pecking order. However, McCullum gave them their dues yesterday, while at the same time recognising a good chance to catch them on the hop.

The tourists arrived in dribs and drabs, have had issues over the bowling actions of Shane Shillingford and Marlon Samuels and were soundly thumped in their last two tests in India. Dunedin isn't Mumbai and New Zealand must take the chance in conditions they know against opponents' whose preparation has been haphazard.

And if McCullum and New Zealand walk away with runs and a win by the weekend, the cricket world may look a far different place for the skipper.