Opinion: Andrew Alderson - The trial of Brendon McCullum

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum. Photo / Getty

OPINION

Since Chris Cairns, after enduring a trial of more than eight weeks and a jury deliberation of more than 10 hours, was found not guilty of perjury, one could be forgiven for thinking that somehow key witness Brendon McCullum was also on trial.

Feedback has thundered through that the New Zealand cricket captain somehow needs to front-foot with a response on the verdict. But what could he possibly add that hasn't been said in court under the arch of privilege? Or are the demands generated simply to feed an insatiable media beast?

McCullum decided to accept the prosecution's invitation to testify against Cairns, albeit after a much-documented delay of more than two-and-a-half years to offer investigators his 2008 version of events. According to McCullum, his reasons included not wanting to rat on a former teammate and hero. Irrespective of motive, it takes courage to front in a British Crown Court. McCullum's lawyer Garth Gallaway suggested hindsight was a comfortable position from which critics could view his client's dilemma.

"The adversarial process is an extraordinarily demanding one," Gallaway said. "Brendon firmly believes that the appropriate place to refer to his evidence was in the court in the UK. He will make no further comment on it or the verdict."

McCullum detractors have suggested his evidence wasn't believed by the jury, which is pure speculation. To convict Cairns, Justice Nigel Sweeney instructed the jury they had to believe two of the three testimonies from McCullum, Lou Vincent and Vincent's ex-wife Ellie Riley. Based on the verdict it appears they didn't.

Then McCullum had to turn around after his testimony and lead New Zealand against Australia in one of this country's most anticipated test series in years. He could be forgiven for looking a trifle nervous, a bit flat and a touch underdone. Arguably the highest profile trial in New Zealand sports history, of which he'd been directly involved, was building up a head of steam in the London background.

His leadership in Brisbane, where he oscillated field settings from the off to the leg side, resulted in opprobrium from former Australian captain and now commentator Ian Chappell who said he "contributed to their problems by having some impatient captaincy" and "it was almost like he was trying to justify his reputation as being a very inventive captain. In doing that he didn't help his bowlers."

Could he simply have been distracted by matters further afield?

McCullum responded by racing to 80 off as many balls as New Zealand were set 504 to win on the final day. Then he was the recipient of the first of three Nigel Llong umpiring howlers in the series, adjudged caught at second slip by Steve Smith off Mitch Marsh.

Replays showed he hadn't hit the ball but New Zealand were out of reviews.

At Perth, a match which New Zealand went on to draw, the commentators again flogged his tactics.

"We're 20 minutes into the third session on the first day... and we've got no slips - it's unbelievable," said Mike Hussey, before Chappell again paced out his long run: "He hasn't done anything to get their batsmen out of their rhythm ... I don't think we've seen too much imagination from him today, he's basically spread the field like a one-day game."

Then McCullum and his team suffered the third test Long howler when a catch wasn't given from the Hotspot flash on Nathan Lyon's bat in Australia's first innings and the third umpire uttered the immortal line "it could've come from anywhere".

Presumably the recent pressures of court and cricket might also have prompted McCullum's decision to opt out of the first year of his three-year deal with the Brisbane Heat in Cricket Australia's Big Bash which runs from December 17-January 24.

McCullum has a privileged job but could sometimes be forgiven for longing to end his test career, an act which will presumably occur after February's home series against Australia.

He can retire to stud, his own Vermair Racing business to be specific, to make decisions as and when he pleases, without the constant scrutiny.

Like Cairns, he will be a free man.