Cricket: McCullum moves on with some regret

Nathan McCullum. Photo / Paul Taylor

New Zealand all-rounder Nathan McCullum has made a habit of leaving the party early this summer.

The talented 31-year-old helped the Sydney Sixers reach the final of the Australian domestic Twenty20 competition but, instead of flying to Perth for the grand finale, he returned to New Zealand to play in the one-day tournament for Otago.

The Sixers won and got to celebrate without him. But McCullum celebrated in his own way with a superb match-winning performance the next day. He smashed 90 from 43 deliveries and took two for 37 to help beat Northern Districts by five runs and lift Otago to second in the standings.

But his part in Otago's one-day campaign is complete. He is needed for the effort against Zimbabwe and probably South Africa later this month.

And while he has been looking forward to this part of the season, and the chance to shine on the international stage, it is also bittersweet.

"It is a little bit disappointing but I guess it is part of the job these days," McCullum said. "We move into international cricket now and it is going to be exciting to get back into that. It is going to be good fun, especially playing down here [University Oval]."

New Zealand plays Zimbabwe in Dunedin on Friday in the first of three one-dayers. The teams will also play two Twenty20 fixtures later this month.

McCullum is a reasonably well established member of the New Zealand one-day and Twenty20 sides but would love to break into the test squad.

"It is something I want to do ... and I guess from my point of view it is being in that all-rounder's role when there is possibly a chance to play two or three spinners. If I'm going to make it, I'm going to have to keep scoring runs ... and obviously taking wickets as well."

Fellow Black Caps all-rounder Jacob Oram has retired from test cricket but plans on adding to his 153 one-day and 29 Twenty20 international appearances.

But at 33, and one of the senior statesmen in the team, he doesn't take his place in the squad for granted.

"I know my career is slowly coming to an end ... and the competition [for seamer's spots] is fierce now," he said.

"To be completely honest, I didn't count my chickens coming into this side here. A few years ago I may have packed my black helmet ... when I went away to play for CD. But this year I kept it at home because I wasn't sure.

"The competition is tight and that is a great thing for New Zealand cricket. The more guys we have knocking on the door and putting pressure on, I suppose senior players or incumbents, the better, because it just raises everyone's standards."

Injuries have robbed Oram, particularly at test level, of more opportunities. And as his career has developed, he has seen his role in the side change. He is batting lower down the order and putting more emphasis on his bowling.

"I know the skills are still there, but when you're falling down the order you don't get the opportunities to show them as much. I don't probably put in quite as much time as when I was a test No 6. But I'm still putting the effort in and the desire is still there to score runs. I don't want to turn into a No 11. But if my role is now a bowler who bats, obviously I've got to train for that." Both Oram and McCullum expect Zimbabwe to put up more of a fight in the one-day series than in the one-off test in which the Black Caps register a win by an innings and 301 runs.

"The way the New Zealand boys played was outstanding," McCullum said. "And they just didn't do it against Zimbabwe, they did it against Australia, as well. I think the way those guys are playing in the test arena is fantastic and, hopefully, we can continue that in the one-day and Twenty20 formats."

Ticket sales have been "steady without being spectacular" a spokesman from New Zealand Cricket said. The venue's capacity is about 4000.

The forecast looks reasonable, with cloudy conditions and fresh northeasterlies expected.