Cricket: McCullum entitled to relief as dramatic reign winds down

Brendon McCullum's reign has coincided with a tumultuous period, generally for the better, occasionally for the worse. Illustration / Rod Emmerson

Views on captain split but his impact undeniable.

As Brendon McCullum MNZM returned to his former home town Dunedin this week, he could be forgiven for musing about what life is like on a human Richter scale, oscillating from peak to trough.

"Kaleidoscope" is a valid answer when asked to describe McCullum's life as one colour. If Shakespeare was around, he'd be keen to pen the script.

This week marked three years since he took over the captaincy of the national side in acrimonious circumstances from Ross Taylor.

His reign has coincided with a tumultuous period, generally for the better, occasionally for the worse.

Yet, if McCullum retired tomorrow, he would leave a larger-than-life legacy.

Some dag even sneaked on to Wikipedia during the World Cup and labelled McCullum "the greatest ever New Zealand international cricketer". Sir Richard Hadlee would be within his rights to take issue, but was the random editor so far off the mark?

McCullum's achievements are less based on statistics than gut feel as to the indelible influence he has had on players, opponents and spectators.

In another generation, when cricket buffs reflect on his influence, his name will leap to mind as much for the direction he gave his team as performances with the bat or wicketkeeping gloves.

Strong team performances have been melded to a culture of humility. Nothing appears taken for granted. There is no sense of the entitlement which can inadvertently seep in with success.

However, much like his catalogue of mercurial innings, McCullum's reputation as a captain has rarely had an opportunity to settle.

He was subject to public fury after Taylor's demise, his debut test at the helm coincided with the Cape Town 45, he threatened to sue former captain John Parker for defamation, scored New Zealand's first test triple century, led the country to its first World Cup final, guided the test side to an unprecedented seven undefeated series, received a Queen's Birthday gong, testified for the prosecution in Chris Cairns' perjury trial and is establishing a life after sport through Vermair Racing, described by its website as a "recognisable and funky equine brand", arguably like its owner's captaincy.

McCullum will become the first player to play 100 consecutive tests if he remains injury free until they play Australia at Wellington in February. Retirement seems imminent after that.

As captain, he has revolutionised how New Zealand play the game with goodwill but aggressive intent. Public apathy has been consumed by fervour. McCullum also deserves credit for balancing the needs of senior pros, in particular Taylor, while convincing younger players they belong at international level.

"Brendon's the face of the team," coach Mike Hesson said of his captain's role in the World Cup. "He made the key decisions and captured the nation with his style of play."

Before the Australia test series he had New Zealand's most successful captaincy record of 37.5 per cent with nine wins in 24 tests. A 2-0 loss relegated him to third behind Geoff Howarth (36.67 per cent) and Stephen Fleming (35 per cent). Three wins in the remaining four summer tests would restore him to the top.

New Zealand's best eras have coincided with captains who reflected or imposed the zeitgeist - the measured Walter Hadlee in 1949; the astute Howarth and cerebral Jeremy Coney of the 1980s; the street- wise Fleming heading into the 21st century. McCullum has joined their company, yet seldom have perceptions around a New Zealand sportsman generated such a spectrum of applause and derision. Across his career, opinion has compartmentalised into phrases like "brash maverick", "cocky mercenary", "generous benefactor" and "loyal mate".

Brendon McCullum of New Zealand bats during day five of the First Test match between Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

Last month McCullum's ability to cope with the stress toll of the Australia series came under scrutiny as the Cairns trial reached its denouement.

In the aftermath of the not guilty verdict there was a sense McCullum, despite being a witness, was also now on trial. Feedback thundered through that he needed to front-foot with a response on the verdict. But what could he add that hadn't been said in court under the arch of privilege?

In the end he offered an appropriate response to Cairns being found not guilty: "I'm very comfortable with the evidence I gave in London".

McCullum detractors have suggested his evidence wasn't believed by the jury, which is pure speculation. To convict Cairns, Justice Nigel Sweeney instructed the jury they had to believe two of the three testimonies from McCullum, Lou Vincent and Vincent's ex-wife Ellie Riley. They didn't.

McCullum went on to lead New Zealand against Australia in one of this country's most anticipated test series. He could be forgiven for looking a trifle nervous, a bit flat and a touch underdone as arguably the highest profile trial in New Zealand sports history concluded in the background.

His leadership in Brisbane, where he oscillated field settings from the off to the leg side, resulted in opprobrium from former Australian captain and now commentator Ian Chappell who said he "contributed to their problems by having some impatient captaincy" and "it was almost like he was trying to justify his reputation as being a very inventive captain. In doing that he didn't help his bowlers."

Could he simply have been distracted by matters further afield?

McCullum responded by racing to 80 off as many balls as New Zealand were set 504 to win on the final day. Then he was the recipient of the first of three Nigel Llong umpiring howlers in the series, adjudged caught at second slip by Steve Smith off Mitch Marsh. He hadn't hit the ball but New Zealand were out of reviews.

At Perth, a match which New Zealand went on to draw, the commentators again flogged his tactics.

"We're 20 minutes into the third session on the first day ... and we've got no slips - it's unbelievable," blurted Mike Hussey.

Then McCullum and his team suffered the third Llong howler when a catch wasn't given from the Hot Spot flash on Nathan Lyon's bat in Australia's first innings and the third umpire uttered the immortal line "it could've come from anywhere".

McCullum has a privileged job but could sometimes be forgiven for longing to end his test career.

He can retire to stud, Vermair Racing to be specific, to make decisions as and when he pleases, without the constant scrutiny.