Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Announced retirement today. Will quit all internationals as of February.

I think of NZ as my other team, and in recent times Brendon and the Kiwis have offered most of the pleasure I've had in following cricket. Blood may have been shed on his ascendency to the leadership of the side, but he has proved a most enlightened premier. Not just in how he has been innovative, particularly in ODIs, but mainly because he helped detoxify the public perception of his side (in NZ), and provided a lead in that respect to other teams. He has shifted the image of the game slightly, which I feel has for many years been cast in the likeness of Steve Waugh's great, but pitiless Australian side.

McCullum, towards the end of his career played a few genuinely great innings that will make lists of the best ever played. But more than this, he arrested the acceptance that sport must be played as ruthlessly and aggressively as possible, and integrity was just the abstract windbaggery of losers and sentimentalists . And to me, that says something about the way life can be lived. He has delivered a particularly benevolent propaganda. He pushed against the tide. And if nothing else, he gave me a little hope and respite where I usually find antagonism and self interest.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:I think of NZ as my other team, and in recent times Brendon and the Kiwis have offered most of the pleasure I've had in following cricket. Blood may have been shed on his ascendency to the leadership of the side, but he has proved a most enlightened premier. Not just in how he has been innovative, particularly in ODIs, but mainly because he helped detoxify the public perception of his side (in NZ), and provided a lead in that respect to other teams. He has shifted the image of the game slightly, which I feel has for many years been cast in the likeness of Steve Waugh's great, but pitiless Australian side.

McCullum, towards the end of his career played a few genuinely great innings that will make lists of the best ever played. But more than this, he arrested the acceptance that sport must be played as ruthlessly and aggressively as possible, and integrity was just the abstract windbaggery of losers and sentimentalists . And to me, that says something about the way life can be lived. He has delivered a particularly benevolent propaganda. He pushed against the tide. And if nothing else, he gave me a little hope and respite where I usually find antagonism and self interest.

Well said. I wont waste words adding to what AC has perfectly summed up above.

I think McCullum's "captaincy" is slightly overstated. He took over a Kiwi side that have one of the best batsmen in the world and one of the top pace attacks. While I do respect the way he played the game, I don't agree with some of the celebratory remarks that have been handed out.

And today day he signs for Middlesex

I thought he might sign for CC. Bit of a coup for Middx.

He's still named in the 2016 IPL draft which means he'll miss probably Middx 1st 6 CC games.

westoelad wrote:He's still named in the 2016 IPL draft which means he'll miss probably Middx 1st 6 CC games.

He's not playing in the Championship. Limited overs only.