New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming sees Brendon McCullum as an Adam Gilchrist-like one-day international opening batsman - but only in the long term.
A promising showing in Thursday's Twenty20 match against Australia and illness doubts over veteran opener Nathan Astle have seen McCullum's name again put forward as an
option to partner Fleming at the top.
Having started his international career with limited success as an opener in the 2002 VB Series, McCullum has matured and clearly wants the added responsibility.
His captain though remained cautious about a switch that has been mooted several times, perhaps allowing Astle to shift to No 3 and potentially balancing out the side better.
"I think he's a wee way away. In the absence of Nathan he was a good foil, but Nathan back to pretty much full health we hope, he does a pretty good job as well with 14 one-day hundreds," Fleming said on the eve of today's first one-dayer against Australia in Wellington.
"Brendon's value down the lower order as he learns his game down there is still more important to us."
The ability to clear the boundary in the death overs, innovation as shown by his outrageous lap shot in the win over Australia in Melbourne in December, and lightning pace between the wickets all held him in good stead at No 7 or 8.
McCullum, still just 23, was to play his 58th one-day international today and Fleming gave the Dunedin product a glowing endorsement.
"Possibly in the future, five years from now when Nathan and myself have our time, it's hard to say. I'm pretty sure he'll have a stronger role up the order as the years go on, he's that type of player.
"He relishes everything which is part of the excitement that I have with the guy. He's an entertainer, he's willing to take a gamble and back his skills. It's not really New Zealand-like.
"He's a great athlete, if anything he's got to learn to temper it, pick his shots and that will come with experience, and he's doing that well down the order.
"In the past we've thrown guys up when they've shown a bit of potential and that's hurt them."
Not one to hide his feelings, McCullum has previously stated a desire to open and blaze away in the mould of Gilchrist.
After his joust with Brett Lee's 150km/h-plus deliveries on Thursday when he improvised well for 36 off 24 balls, McCullum was happy to play a dead bat to the question of opening.
"He (Lee) was lightning but it was good fun though. Nathan said beforehand 'welcome to real cricket.'
"Opening is something we might look at somewhere down the track but at the moment I'm enjoying where I'm batting down the order."
- NZP
New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming sees Brendon McCullum as an Adam Gilchrist-like one-day international opening batsman - but only in the long term.
A promising showing in Thursday's Twenty20 match against Australia and illness doubts over veteran opener Nathan Astle have seen McCullum's name again put forward as an
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.