Brendon McCullum: The World's Most Exciting Cricketer

It may have been Tim Southee that dismantled England in Wellington, but it was Brendon McCullum who rubbed salt into the gaping wound.

The New Zealand captain came out to open the batting knowing his side needed just 124 runs to win. A required run rate of just over two-an-over. It took just 12.2 overs.

McCullum struck 77 runs off only 25 balls. He flayed a ragged and lacklustre England attack all-round the ground.

The chasm in quality, confidence and skill level was underlined with the first ball of the second over. Stuart Broad, fourth in England’s all-time ODI wicket-taker list, bowled short and wide outside off-stump. McCullum leaned back and powerfully upper-cut the ball into the stands over point.

Right then the partisan crowd knew this run chase would not last long. Not that they cared. They would be treated to an utterly dominant display of batting: a supremely confident showman at the peak of his powers.

Like a battle-hardened unbeaten gladiator McCullum dismissed every challenger—every ball that came down the wicket—with an air of nonchalance.    

There was a sense of inevitability about it all.

The bowler returns to his mark. The bowler ambles in. The bowler releases the ball with no conviction.

Another skip down the pitch. Another flash of the bat. Another thud against the boundary rope.

McCullum hit 15 of the 25 balls he faced to the boundary.

Steven Finn, England’s fastest and, in theory, most hostile bowler, was made to look like a medium-paced club cricketer.

In all he delivered 10 balls in the direction of the Kiwi captain. Two resulted in dot balls. The other eight went for boundaries; a strike rate of 444 the result.

"

#howzstat - Brendon McCullum's S/R of 308.00 is the highest of any batsman who scored 50+ in CWC history pic.twitter.com/ZOB4Vo1oHI

— ICC (@ICC) February 20, 2015"

He broke his own record for the fastest fifty at a World Cup, scored against the Netherlands in 2007—a sign of how bad England were, but also of an ever increased confidence.

The overall result was complete carnage: another scalp for the much-fancied co-hosts and another confidence-sapping reverse for the visitors.

New Zealand have now won all three of their World Cup matches so far. They have a well-rounded side: confident, proactive batsmen, lower order hitting and a dangerous bowling attack. But it is their captain who stands.

He leads by example with the bat. He is always aggressive. If the pitch is trustworthy you can expect fireworks. If the pitch is more difficult he is equally capable of pushing into the gaps and running hard.

He bats on adrenaline which shows in his recent run of form. In 2015 he has an ODI strike rate of 137, which would be considered outstanding in T20s. 

But it is not just his batting: He is the perfect captain for this New Zealand side.

His fast bowlers are always supported by attacking, astute and often inventive field settings. Unlike some captains, a few boundaries do not result in a release of pressure. Fielders are not sent to patrol the fence immediately—they stay in close and trust the bowler to respond.

"

Brendon McCullum made a great statement there. 4 slips!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 20, 2015"

Equally, his judgement is rarely questionable. When he has a team on the ropes he goes for the throat. Against England Southee was brought back at the opportune moment and proceeded to decimate the middle order and effectively win the game for his side.

McCullum is also electric in the field. He leads by example. Much like fellow genius AB de Villiers he began his career as a wicketkeeper, but without the gloves he fields like a hyperactive child let loose in the park. Southee told ESPN Cricinfo.

"

Our fielding, it's an attitude. We've prided ourselves on being one of the best fielding sides in the world for a number of years now. It is an attitude thing that's led by Brendon himself, the way he throws himself around in the field. And if he's doing that then it sets the standard for the rest of the team to follow.

"

His enthusiasm is clearly infectious—New Zealand have been outstanding in the field.

His batting is on fire. His captaincy is spot on. His fielding is exceptional.

Brendon McCullum can justifiably lay claim to being the world’s most exciting cricketer right now.