Brendon McCullum. Photo / Reuters
Feisty gloveman Brendon McCullum has a simple message for Australian speed sensation Shaun Tait: stop talking and start bowling.
McCullum was particularly punishing on a fired-up Tait at Adelaide and will target him again tonight in Sydney.
"If he's going to bowl like that hopefully we can get
him even more fired up," quipped McCullum. There was serious intent in the rest of his words, though.
Tait was rocked by veiled accusations his action was suspect and told the New Zealanders that he would make them uncomfortable and that they should watch the ball more.
"The one thing I did read," McCullum continued, "was him looking to make us uncomfortable. From my point of view, if he's Glenn McGrath he can put those comments out there. My advice would be to get some stats behind him before he starts mouthing off."
McCullum was warming to his task now and said although Tait had "good gas", he still had a lot to learn.
"I'm sure in the long run he's going to be a very good bowler but at the moment there are still signs we can expose him. I thought it [his comments] was a bit reckless from Taity. He's a good bloke but he's only played 15 games. McGrath was very good at talking it up but had also got some unbelievable stats behind him."
McCullum played a straighter bat when it came to the issue of his action, saying simply that he "didn't have a problem with it" and that the saga could come under the banner of "general banter".
Although a relative novice at opening the batting McCullum has already emerged as the key toNew Zealand's increasingly remote chances of retaining the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
"I'm very determined to kick on in the next two games and lay the foundation for us to make better scores."
He'll need help though and he said it was too late to worry about any apparent skill disparity between the sides.
"It's pretty exciting because we head into [tonight's] game having to play fantastically to win. If we get across the line we are going to have done something pretty special."
