McCullum's feats with the bat in the past 14 months have already left
little doubt he owns a place among the very best batsmen in the world,
not just in one-day and Twenty20 internationals which once gave the best
forum for the expression of his attacking game, but also in Tests. In
2014 he became the first New Zealander to score a test triple century,
followed that with two double centuries and amassed more test runs in a
calendar year than any New Zealand batsman had done before.
More than that, as he toppled milestones and led New Zealand to unprecedented success -- five Test wins in a year, more than it had ever previously achieved -- he seemed at ease with himself.
The often brash, sometimes combative McCullum who sometimes frustrated, sometimes antagonised fans and other players, seemed to have been replaced by a calmer and more thoughtful player, one more respectful of the game and his position in it.
Asked on the eve of New Zealand's World Cup opener against Sri Lanka, how different the Brendon McCullum of 2014 may be from the Brendon McCullum who played his first world tournament in 2003, he replied, "Quite different, I hope."
"When I was pretty young I was very naive, I hadn't really traveled much and I didn't really understand my game either," he said.
More than that, as he toppled milestones and led New Zealand to unprecedented success -- five Test wins in a year, more than it had ever previously achieved -- he seemed at ease with himself.
The often brash, sometimes combative McCullum who sometimes frustrated, sometimes antagonised fans and other players, seemed to have been replaced by a calmer and more thoughtful player, one more respectful of the game and his position in it.
Asked on the eve of New Zealand's World Cup opener against Sri Lanka, how different the Brendon McCullum of 2014 may be from the Brendon McCullum who played his first world tournament in 2003, he replied, "Quite different, I hope."
"When I was pretty young I was very naive, I hadn't really traveled much and I didn't really understand my game either," he said.
Source: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 and Cricket News Today
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