McCullum eyeing top order slot for New Zealand in Tests

AUCKLAND - New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum wants to open for the Black caps in Tests after deciding to give up his gloves.

McCullum said that it could be the worst decision he has made in his career, but he also thinks that he would provide New Zealand with an aggressive opening option, The New Zealand Herald reports.

New Zealand has struggled for many years to find a settled and productive opening partnership, and McCullum, who has averaged 34.90 in 52 tests, is seen to offer the national selectors a new option.

McCullum will not be the first wicketkeeper who has also been a test opener. West Indian Clyde Walcott opened the innings in his first Test match against England in 1948.

Alec Stewart did so in tests for England, Wayne Phillips for Australia, Romesh Kaluwitharana for Sri Lanka, Andy Flower for Zimbabwe and Adam Parore, briefly, for New Zealand.

Adam Gilchrist for Australia, Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka and Kamran Akmal for Pakistan have done so in the limited-overs format. (ANI)