Brendon McCullum - Blackcaps Captain - under threat

Throughout NZ cricketing history there have been a few captains of our national team that have found it hard to perform and justify their place in that team (G Howarth for one).  And now we have a similar situation permeating our current team.

For many years now Brendon Mcullum has been an integral cog in the make up of the Blackcaps, whether wicketkeeping, batting, or as captain.  I have never been a knocker of players that will always surpass my own capabilities as a player, but I do have issues when a player is seemingly getting a free ride in our team.   Like Howarth, after being made Captain one very important facet of his game has gone missing - his batting.

The wonderful thing about the game of cricket is the stats that go with it.  In fact in a lot of ball sports statistics rule/govern selections and give administrators and coaches the ability to pick the best for their team.  Brendon has always been a first choice as a wicketkeeper, but since no longer keeping, his other two strengths should be keeping him in the team, his batting and captaincy.

Let's start with the batting and some stats.  Brendon's first foray as skipper started in South Africa in 2013, so these stats are from that period until this current Indian tour.  In tests, he is averaging 32.5.  In his last 10 test innings he is averaging 25.4.  Take out the 113, and his average in last 9 is 15.7.  In ODI's he is averaging 26.3.  His last ten innings average is 15.6.  In the last year he has been past 30 3 times with one of them 51.

Now those numbers don't stack up for a professional batsman in our top team.

The other area that seems to be under pressure too is his captaincy.  Yes to be fair, he's running at 99% alright.  But is the pressure of his batting failures starting to weigh on his mind.  It was evident in last nights 3rd ODI versus India at Eden Park Brendon miscalculated.  Yes sure he kept his main bowlers on to try and break a match threatening partnership, but in the back of his mind he should have been thinking "what about the death"?  At that stage it seemed unlikely India would survive to those overs, but to essentially bowl out the only bowler we have who is capable of bowling very full and yorkers/low full tosses at the death was a sacrilege and a very bad error.  Leaving that role to an inexperienced , albeit talented, youngster was just another indicator things are not well in the McCullum camp.  Also should he have considered Jesse Ryder for a few overs after the Powerplay just to change things up a bit and maybe buy a wicket?

As I said, I have admired Brendon and his efforts for our country over many years, but now for me the writing is on the wall.  Especially when we have a Cricket World Cup around the corner.  We have one year to try out  a new skipper, introduce Tom Latham as opener (dropping Ryder to his better placed 5)  Yes one year, not long.  Sorry Brendon, ka kite ano.  I don't think the remaining two ODIs will save you.