Cricket: McCullum poised for test bat role

Brendon McCullum. Photo / Getty Images

Brendon McCullum could move to be New Zealand's test cricket number three batsman, after indicating he wants to give up wicketkeeping in all formats of the game to focus on batting.

McCullum seems set to negotiate coming out from behind the stumps, even if his batting form lapsed during the Indian Premier League and Twenty20 World Cup.

The move to No 3 is understood to be a quid pro quo for McCullum's decision to give up the gloves - and could be viewed with interest by New Zealand Cricket, still wary he could otherwise go freelance.

McCullum is the best wicketkeeper in the country but has apparently had enough of the gloves - leading to debate he was disadvantaging the team by requiring the Black Caps to select another wicketkeeper, diluting the batting order as McCullum combined the roles.

His move to No 3 could solve a problem spot in test matches. McCullum certainly has enough experience to launch a credible campaign as test first drop.

He sees off the new ball in the shorter forms of the game - and often the second new ball in tests. There is evidence he can succeed in the role. He averages 40 in five test innings at first drop, including a memorable 96 in his first test at Lord's in 2004.

Sources spoken to by the Herald On Sunday suggest the move is being actively discussed. If McCullum knuckles down and specialises, he is quite capable of succeeding.

Black Caps batting coach Mark Greatbatch says it is an option to consider.

McCullum would slot in behind Tim McIntosh and B-J Watling with Ross Taylor at four. That makes room for Martin Guptill at five and Jesse Ryder at six with McCullum's keeping successor at seven or eight depending on where captain Daniel Vettori wants to bat.

As a result, some of New Zealand's top wicketkeepers face a game of musical chairs with their provincial contracts next season.

The selection panel favours Gareth Hopkins as McCullum's back-up but there are other contenders, especially in tests. Chief among them is Auckland's Reece Young. Young has shared the duties with skipper Hopkins for the past three seasons but at age 30 this is his best - and possibly only - chance to come into the test frame.

Young has come close to getting a test cap. He deputised with the gloves when McCullum was ill during the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle last August.

The logical move for Young is to look for regular time keeping with another province. His best bets appear to be Canterbury and Wellington.

Young - a one-province man since his debut in 1998-99 - has impressive batting credentials in the longer form, averaging over 50 on the first class scene the past three seasons. He has batted consistently at the top of the order and could bolster the batting as much as the one-test Hopkins. They have similar batting records at Auckland together.

Young is yet to make a call on his future but it seems likely he will go: "I have a young family so a city-based province would be best but I'm still assessing my options with those who matter to me. I need the best chance of fulfilling my dream of playing for New Zealand. If that means moving, so be it."

Canterbury has lost former captain Kruger van Wyk to Central Districts, where he is competing with veteran Bevan Griggs.

New Zealand under-19 wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham is a promising long-term option at Canterbury but Young might be preferable right now. Chris Nevin, 34, is near the end of his tenure with Wellington. Like Latham, former under-19 rep Joe Austin-Smellie is someone for the future.