Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Confidence is Key for Mccullum
GUPTILL: BAZ WILL BACK PLAYERS 100 PERCENT... IT IS ALL ABOUT THE TEAM
BRENDON MCCULLUM turned New Zealand into Test match world beaters by giving them a selfless purpose and total confidence in their abilities.
Now England’s new managing director of cricket Rob Key (below) is hopeful Mccullum will transform his failing red-ball team.
The Kiwi took over his country’s captaincy in 2013 with the side eighth in the world.
After losing 2-0 to South Africa in his first series in charge he freed his team up to play without fear of defeat and backed them through thick and thin.
They responded, and Mccullum’s opening partner Martin Guptill is in no doubt that his former team-mate can make a huge success of his first Test coaching job, by using similar leadership skills this time around. “One thing about Baz, he really knows how to get the best out of his players,” said Guptill.
“He backs everyone 100 percent and that just gives so much confidence throughout.
“If you look at the way he played, it was total freedom regardless of whether he got 100 or a duck. It didn’t really matter. He had such an even keel where he didn’t get too high or too low and that gave players confidence to go out and do their thing. “He’s going to be able to do that for England over the next little while and it’s quite fitting that the first series is against New Zealand.”
For the Black Caps there was a contrast between Mccullum as captain and Mike Hesson as coach in terms of their character and where their strengths lay.
Hesson had incredible attention to detail while Mccullum brought an inspirational presence, and ability to lead from the front.
On the face of it Mccullum and new England skipper Ben Stokes have some similar characteristics. But one thing that will be abundantly clear from both of them though, is that the team comes first.
“That was Brendon’s big thing,” added Guptill. “Everything you do, it’s for the team.
“What can you do in this moment that’s going to benefit the team rather than it being about yourself nearing a hundred.
“If you get out for 90 and you’re putting your foot down to help the team then you’ve done your job, and it doesn’t matter that you didn’t get the personal milestone. It’s always been a team-first mindset.”