Brendon McCullum - KKR IPL 2009

Brendon McCullum is New Zealand Wicketkeeper-batsman. He is a opening batsman for New Zealand in One Day International format and middle order batsman in test matches. He is quite popular for his aggressive bating and fast scoring. It may not be incorrect if Brendon is branded as ‘explosive batsman for created for Twenty20 format ‘. Brendon McCullum is especially shaped for Twenty20 game. There are only small number of players who can match him, in fast scoring and striking the ball

Cricket is strongly rooted in Brendon McCullum. His brother Nathan McCullum is a first-class cricketer at provincial level and father SJ McCullum is an established long time first-class player for Otago.



Brendon Mc Cullum’s Profile

Brendon McCullum was born on September 27th, 1981 in Dunedin, Otego, New Zealand. His full name is Brendon Barrie McCullum. His father NL McCullum and brother SJ McCullum are also New Zealand cricket players.

Brendon McCullum Playing Style:

He is a right-handed batsman and fielding position is behind the wicket that as a Wicketkeeper. McCullum is very tidy behind the stumps with some outstanding catches to his name

Brendon McCullum Cricket Career.

Brendon Earlier Cricket Career.

When Brendon was in teens, he played three under-19 Test matches for his country New Zealand in season 2000-2001. In these three matches he scored 455 runs at 151.66 with three hundreds. The strike rate in these matches was 95.58 that is almost run a ball.

In the following yea. July 2002 while playing for club cricket in Australia for Northern Territory side Palmerston Cricket Club, he had scored a record 250 not out in less than 100 balls. It is assumed to be the highest ever score made in the territory

Brendon McCullum Domestic Cricket Career

Brendon McCullum plays for the following teams.

- Otago
- New Zealand,
- Canterbury,
- Glamorgan,
- Kolkata Knight Riders,

Brendon McCullum’s First Class Career.

Brendon McCullum’s debut to First Class Domestic Cricket Career was during 1999-2000. He played 79 matches scoring 4250 runs at average of 33.46. His total score of 4250 include 6 centuries and 25 half centuries. His highest score is 160. As a wicket keeper he took 214 catches and stumped at 16 occasions.

Brendon McCullum’s List ’A’ Career.

He played 177 List ‘A’ matches in which he batted in 148 innings, scoring 3564 runs at an average 29.21. He remained 26 times not out. He scored 4 centuries and 16 half centuries. He has taken 193 catches behind the wicket and stumped at 15 occasions.

Brendon McCullum’s Twenty20 Domestic Career

He made his debut to domestic Twenty20 against Australia at Auckland on 17th February, 2005.
He played 36 domestic Twenty20 matches scoring 950 at an average 29.21 and remained not out on 4 occasions. His 950 include 91 fours and 48 sixes. His highest score was 158 not out. H e made one century and 3 half centuries. He took 18 catches behind the wicket and thrice stumped.

Brendon McCullum International Cricket Career

Brendon McCullum’s Test Career.

He made his debut to Test Match Career in March 10, 2004 against South Africa at Hamilton. He played 39 test matches. He scored 1915 runs at 31.91, playing in 64 innings. He remained not out in four innings. His highest score was 143. In 39 matches he scored 2 centuries and 12 half centuries. He took 113 catches and stumped 9 times. (244 fours and 24 sixes)

His maiden test century was against the Bangladesh in 2004-2205. On completion of hundred he went on to score 143 runs.

Earlier to this in 2004, while playing three test series against England, he missed his century by just 4 runs. He was out for 96 runs. Again in 2005-2006 while playing against Sri Lanka he missed hundred by just one run. However in 2005 he scored 111 against Zimbabwe

Brendon McCullum’s ODI Career.

His ODI debut was against Australia at Sydney on 17th January, 2002. He played 138 test matches. He scored 2637 runs at 28, 66, playing in 114 innings. He was not out in 22 innings His highest score was 166. In 138 matches that he played, he scored 1 century and 13 half centuries. His score of 2637 include 225 fours and 78 sixes. He took 155 catches and stumped 13 times.

In the year 2007 Brendon distinguished himself by creating many records. Some of the or as follow:

- Brendon McCullum may always remember the performance he made on 20 February 2007. On this day, New Zealand needed 7 run in last over to win the match and ODI series by 3-0 against their formidable opponents, Australia. Brendon was at the crease when last over was bold. He struck the first ball in his characteristic style for huge six and leveled the score. He later sent the ball to fence for four and bestowed his team with much needed victory and win the series by 3-0. With this win New Zealand broke the record for which they were waiting since 1997.In this match he scored 86 and carried the bat.

- On 21 March 2007, he set a new World Cup record, by smashing 50 runs from just 20 balls against Canada in St Lucia. He finished his innings with 52 runs from 21 balls, including 10 fours and 5 sixes, with a strike rate of 247.61. The previous record had been set by Mark Boucher (South Africa) against The Netherlands on March 16th. It was 50 runs from 21 balls.

- On 14 December 2007 he scored his highest ever ODI score of 96(103) against Australia.

- On 31 December 2007 he scored 50 from just 19 balls against Bangladesh bettering his own record 50 runs in 20 balls. He finished his innings with 80 runs from only 28 balls. It include 9 fours and 6 sixes with a strike rate of 285.71 resulting in a 10 wicket win:chasing 93 from 50 overs. It was achieved making 95 from just 6 overs.

Brendon McCullum’s Twenty20 International:

His debut to Twenty20 was against Australia at Auckland on17 February, 2005. He played in 16 twenty20 matches and scored 323 runs He remained not out on 2 occasions at an average 23.07. His highest score was 45 runs. His score of 323 include 31 fours and 13 sixes. He took 9 catches and stumped thrice.

Brendon McCullum’s performance for Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders a franchise of the Indian Premier League signed Brendon McCullum for US $ 700,000. The contract is for three years.

On 18th April 2008, Brendon McCullum created a world record by scoring 158 runs not out while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders against Bangalore Royal Challengers in the first game of the Indian Premier League inaugural session. His score of 158 was highest individual score for any batsman in a Twenty20 match. His score of 158 not out from 73 balls 13 sixes and 10 fours for the Kolkata Knight Riders had enthralled the crowd and given his team a 140 run victory. Kolkata a franchise of the IPL seems to have made right choice in selecting him for their team. Hope he will keep up the trend entertain cricket fans all over the world.