McCullum to tell all on Cairns, captaincy
New Zealand’s cricket fraternity is bracing for the release of Brendon McCullum’s book this week that will address the Chris Cairns affair and McCullum’s rise to the Black Caps captaincy.
Industry insiders have told Fairfax that it ‘‘will be the most controversial sporting book in the past 20 years’’.
The book has been written with Greg McGee, who worked with Richie McCaw on his 2012 book, The Open Side, and will make fascinating reading for those who have played with and against the hardhitting wicketkeeper and batsman.
‘‘In this explosive autobiography he opens up on the many controversies he has been involved in, including the Chris Cairns affair and the leadership change from Ross Taylor,’’ publishers Upstart Press said on its website. ‘‘He exposes behind-the scenes machinations as well as the private moments of exultation, tumult and despair.’’
The book also takes a look at what shaped McCullum, and how rugby and cricket vied for his affections as a talented youngster.
‘‘He talks about growing up loving sport more than anything, getting better and better at cricket (although he was a good enough rugby player to keep Dan Carter out of the South Island Schoolboy rugby team) and his uncertain transition to international cricketer,’’ Upstart Press said.
Inevitably, though, it will be the passages on Cairns and Taylor that will grab the most attention.
McCullum was a key prosecution witness in a 2015 perjury trial against Cairns in London, where his former team-mate was found not guilty.
In late 2012, McCullum was appointed Black Caps captain in all three forms of the game after Taylor was stripped of the role.