KEY POINTS:
Brendon McCullum could be forgiven for quietly wishing his one-day summer of slam hasn't ended.
Tomorrow the New Zealand wicketkeeper starts his 30th test and has to set aside a series of ODI displays which have captivated the cricket nation, and doubtless had some Indian gentlemen in Kolkata
figuring US$700,000 a year is small change for a bloke with his thunderous bat.
McCullum won't push his one-day run too far from his mind, though, as he looks to retain his golden touch, albeit with a spot of restraint here and there and batting down the order. But he maintains aspects of his ferocious batting philosophy since Bangladesh arrived in December can be taken into the test game.
"Elements of it, yes," he said yesterday. "Obviously you've got to curb it a little bit but the intent and aggressiveness is probably something that suits my style of play more so than probably trying to rely too much on my defence.
"It's just working out the situation and what it requires. There may be times when I have to quieten down.
"I guess you have to assess it as you go along and I think I've got the game to adjust."
McCullum's 170, which won Otago the State Shield against Auckland at Eden Park on Sunday - seven days after 108 not out helped topple Canterbury in the semifinal - was the finest domestic one-day innings played in New Zealand. It was also the fastest century, his 52 balls eclipsing Aravinda da Silva's old mark by a remarkable 13 balls, which equates to a couple of laps in a 1500m race.
McCullum's recent numbers make interesting reading when the mind goes back to December and the debate on whether McCullum was better value opening the ODI innings or coming in at No 7. He was emphatic at the time; going in first was where he wanted to be.
The numbers put up a better argument than any words could. He drew particular satisfaction on Sunday from being able to change gears to get the job done.
"I've been guilty in the past of not being able to pull back and consolidate through the remainder of the innings," McCullum said yesterday. "That's probably the most pleasing aspect, getting away to a quick start, then pulling back, knocking it around to get us through. Things are going pretty good at the moment, now it's about trying to maintain it as long as I can."
Among the Auckland bowlers flogged on Sunday were New Zealand's new ball pair Chris Martin and Kyle Mills, particularly Martin, whose eight overs sailed for 81. But McCullum reckons they'll be fine.
"They know the ground, the pitch and the format was completely different to what we're going to head into now.
"It was a flat wicket and the boundaries were pretty small.
"They're both fantastic bowlers and I'm sure one game won't affect them too much."
England are optimistic key left-arm swing bowler Ryan Sidebottom and middle-order anchor man Paul Collingwood will be fit after suffering hamstring strains.
