Australian commentators sledge Brendon McCullum - 'He's trying to justify his reputation as aggressive captain'

NZ Herald

5 Nov, 2015 05:00 PM2 mins to read

Brendon McCullum fields a ball during day one of the first test between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane. Photo / Getty Images

Australian commentator and former test captain Ian Chappell says Brendon McCullum was trying to justify his aggressive reputation but let his bowlers down with his fielding choices during day one of the opening test at the 'Gabba yesterday.

Hosts Australia finished the day in a commanding position at 389 for two with Usman Khawaja on 102 and captain Steve Smith 41.

McCullum tried some aggressive tactics throughout the day especially when New Zealand failed to take a wicket with the new ball late in the day.

Chappell and fellow commentator Mark Taylor said McCullum over-complicated things for his bowlers by constantly changing the field.

"It looks like he's trying to justify his reputation as being an aggressive captain," Chappell told Channel 9.

"He's gone from an 8-1 field to a 5-4 field and then back again all in the same over. That's only going to disrupt the bowler and his line and length.

"Sometimes you have to sit back and let the line and length do the job. You have to let the bowlers do their job."

That review further illustrates how Brendon McCullum's MO as captain is to be aggressive and take the game on #AUSvNZ
— Andrew Hind (@iamtheoracle) November 5, 2015

Taylor said McCullum needed to show more faith in his bowlers to execute plans.

"That's going to disrupt the bowlers," he told Channel 9 during the first session of pay.

"When you're 2/250 that's the time to be doing something like that. You have to be patient, but that's not his way. It can be tiring for the fielding side to be moving around and always changing plans like that, particularly if it's not working."