Brendon’s big bargain
BIRMINGHAM BEARS have snapped up the services of Brendon McCullum, one of the most exciting batsmen in the world, in an amazing cut- price deal of just £ 3,500 a game.
The Kiwi captain will play seven matches in their T20 Blast campaign after signing a deal worth just under £ 25,000 two days after playing in the World Cup fi nal.
The contract is in line with a similar deal that brought Pakistani allrounder Shoaib Malik to Edgbaston last year.
Warwickshire director of cricket Dougie Brown was understandably delighted and could team him up with Ian Bell at the top of the order. McCullum, who does not have an agent, answered a call from Brown before the World Cup and was happy to agree to the deal.
And while it may be pin money in comparison to his £ 470,000 two- season deal in the Indian Premier League deal with Chennai Super Kings, it is thought McCullum was happy to honour the commitment because it fi ts into his schedule after the conclusion of New Zealand’s tour.
McCullum’s fi rst match in the NatWest T20 Blast will come against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford on June 26, which will no doubt delight the Red Rose county as well as entice Sky’s cameras.
Warwickshire are hoping that attendances, which were already up 55 per cent last year, could reach towards 15,000 for their fi nal group game against Lancashire at Edgbaston on July 17. Middlesex and Lancashire were last night picking up the pieces of their pre- season planning after Adam Voges and Peter Siddle were surprise call- ups to the 17- man Australia Ashes squad.
Voges – voted the Sheffield Shield Player of the Year, having made 1,358 runs at an average of 104.46 – had been due to captain Middlesex but will now miss most of the season. He will still be available to play the fi rst few fi xtures.
Lancashire director of cricket Ashley Giles was planning on Siddle spearheading their fastbowling options but now has to go back to the drawing board with fellow Aussie quick Pat Cummins mooted as a possible new target.
Pakistan- born Fawad Ahmed, 33, is selected as Australia’s second spinner ahead of Ashton Agar, who broke the record for the highest score by a Test No 11 against England in 2013.
Fawad claimed asylum in Australia in 2010 and his citizenship application was fast- tracked three years later.
He has played in three one- day internationals and two Twenty20 matches for Australia, but is yet to make his Test debut.
“Adam Voges and Fawad Ahmed had sensational seasons at domestic level and their performances just could not be ignored,” said national selector Rod Marsh.