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ADELAIDE - A pesky shoulder injury has only added to New Zealand vice-captain Brendon McCullum's frustrating Australian cricket tour.
But the New Zealand talisman says he'd like nothing better to burst out of his scratchy recent form and inspire a Chappell-Hadlee Trophy win - fitness permitting.
The nasty whack on the right shoulder from a rearing Kyle Mills delivery in Sydney - which required a painkilling injection then a precautionary scan yesterday - continued an annoying run of injuries for New Zealand's gloveman, stretching back to the England tour last winter.
A back problem ruled him out of wicketkeeping in the third test against England last June, and in the split tour of Australia he battled another back niggle before Christmas then hip and shoulder problems in the past week.
Coupled with a lack of big scores in ODI cricket in recent months and McCullum was crossing his fingers for a change of luck in Adelaide today and potential series decider in Brisbane on Friday.
"It's not too bad, I feel like things are going okay (with the batting). I got a good hundred in a warmup game and scored a few runs back home, and got a few starts in the last little while," he said.
"Hopefully a big one's not too far away and it'd be great to do it in a series-deciding game. "
McCullum scored a measured 114 off 130 balls in the Prime Minister's 11 match in Canberra then was fired lbw second ball in Perth by Australian umpire Bruce Oxenford when replays showed a big inside edge.
His 43 off 75 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground set the platform for Grant Elliott and Neil Broom to lead the run chase home then in Sydney it was back to the future as his shoulder problem saw him drop to No 9.
Reviving memories of his former big hitting down the order, a pained McCullum attacked with only one good arm to flay 36 off 27 before one more big swing saw him caught, and the bat go flying.
But the big one remains elusive. The star of last year's Indian Premier League (IPL), McCullum has gone 11 ODI innings without a half-century since his career-best 166 against Ireland in July.
He's also made a conscious recent decision to shelve his all-out attack.
"There's a number of reasons for trying to rein it in. The wickets (in Australia) have been a little slow, probably not conducive to full-blown strokeplay.
"You've also got to try and look at what's the best opportunity to make a significant contribution. The last couple of games I've had to try and rein it in a little bit. " His seniority amid an inexperienced batting lineup containing Martin Guptill and Neil Broom also adds to the sense of responsibility.
McCullum's determination to lead the young New Zealand side home is also driven by the sense that a rebuilding Australian side are there for the taking.
Ideally New Zealand can seal the series 3-1 in Adelaide today, otherwise a thrilling finale in Brisbane beckons. The past week turned around an awful test series for the tourists who were beaten heavily in the same two cities in November.
"They (Australia) have gone through a lot in the last 6-8 weeks (against South Africa) since we were here for the tests. We're also a far better ODI unit than a test unit so the confidence we have arriving here from a couple of months ago is quite a big difference.
"The Aussies have been through a lot and your confidence always takes a knock when you do go down a few times in a row.
"That's probably what's happened, but they're still a quality side and you have to be at your best to beat them."
- NZPA
