Brendon McCullum was born on September 27, 1981, and went on to play 101 Tests, 260 ODIs, and 71 T20Is for New Zealand. He made his debut in 2002 and retired from all cricket in 2015. McCullum also captained New Zealand to the final of the 2015 ICC World Cup.
While he had an excellent Test career, McCullum is known more for his exploits in white-ball cricket, be it the ODIs, T20Is, or the T20 leagues. He scored 6083 runs at an average of 30.41 and a strike rate of 96.37 in 260 ODIs, including five centuries and 32 half-centuries, with the best score of 166.
McCullum excelled in T20Is as well, scoring 2140 runs at a strike rate of 136.21, including two centuries and 13 half-centuries, with the best score of 123. Let’s a look at three of his best knocks in white-ball cricket.
Here are the top 3 batting performances of Brendon McCullum in white-ball cricket:
1. 123 vs Bangladesh, Pallekele, 2012 T20 World Cup
Brendon McCullum showed how brutal he can be in T20s in one of the most memorable T20I knocks ever. New Zealand faced Bangladesh in the 5th match of the 2012 T20 World Cup in spin heaven Pallekele. New Zealand was asked to bat first by Bangladesh, and this proved to be a huge error.
Bangladesh got an early wicket, but then Brendon McCullum took over and destroyed them as he smashed 123 runs in 58 balls, hitting 11 fours and seven sixes to power New Zealand to 191/3 in 20 overs. He was severe against the Bangladeshi spinners, with the great Shakib Al Hasan going for 40 runs in four overs. This set a template for future batters to go about their job in T20Is.
2. 166 vs Ireland, Aberdeen, 2008
This is Brendon McCullum’s highest score in ODI cricket. It came in a match between New Zealand and Ireland in a tri-series match in Aberdeen in 2008. New Zealand were put into bat first by Ireland, and their bowlers were murdered by Kiwi openers. James Marshall hammered 161 runs in 141 balls with 11 fours and four sixes and added 274 runs for the first wicket with Brendon McCullum.
However, it was McCullum who was the most brutal. He smashed 166 in just 135 balls, hitting 12 fours and 11 sixes with his strike rate being 122.96. This enabled New Zealand to post 402/2 in 50 overs as Ross Taylor also slammed 59* in 24 balls. McCullum proved that he could be brutal in the 50-over format as well.
3. 158* vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, IPL 2008
BCCI’s high-value and ambitious Indian Premier League got off in 2008 with Kolkata Knight Riders taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The IPL 2008 needed something huge and momentous to put it on the map, and Brendon McCullum provided the same.
Asked to bat first by RCB, KKR lost captain Sourav Ganguly for 10 runs and Ricky Ponting for 20 runs. However, it was Brendon McCullum who carried the KKR innings. He played 73 balls, scoring a huge 158*, the first-ever score of 150 plus in T20 cricket. He hammered 10 fours and 13 sixes in his knock, lighting up the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. His knock helped KKR post 222/3 in the first match ever, and thanks to McCullum, the IPL juggernaut got the first push it needed.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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