Brendon McCullum's debut in International Cricket

New Zealand’s brash and brilliant wicket-keeper batsman Brendon McCullum played his debut match for New Zealand against Australia in January 2002 at the Sydney Cricket Ground during the tri-nation VB series. McCullum was selected for the match purely as a batsman, and opened the innings for New Zealand along side left -hander Mark Richardson. He lasted just 15 deliveries before being run-out by a Brett Lee throw for just 5. He was the first Kiwi batsman to be dismissed in the match. New Zealand went on to win the match by 23 runs after bowling out Australia for 212.

Born in September 1981, McCullum played his first Test match for New Zealand at the age of 23, during the three Test South Africa tour of New Zealand series, in March 2004. With Adam Parore having retired from international cricket in April 2002, McCullum was brought on as a long-term replacement for the veteran Parore. McCullum’s first dismissal as New Zealand wicket-keeper was a catch of batsman Jacques Rudolph, off the bowling of medium pace bowler Scott Styris. 

In a run heavy match, South Africa ended up on a total of 459 in their first innings, led by a century from Gary Kirsten. New Zealand took full advantage of the batting friendly Day 2 and Day 3 wickets, with five batsmen notching up half-centuries, including McCullum, who hit an impressive 57 off 86 balls, with 11 fours. He came out to bat at number eight in the New Zealand first innings, and shared an 84-run stand with all-rounder Jacob Oram for the seventh wicket. He took two further catches in the South African second innings, and did not get to bat in the fourth innings of the Test match as the game ended in a draw after five days of play.