McCullum determined to maintain 2010 form

WELLINGTON - Brendon McCullum, who scored more than 750 runs in six tests at an average of 75.8 last year, is hopeful of retaining last year’s form.

McCullum left wicketkeeping and dedicated himself to becoming an opening batsman, the result of which was a good tour of India and a career best score of 225 at Hyderabad.

As the first test of 2011 looms, against Pakistan here starting on Friday, McCullum is determined to not only maintain the momentum he created last year but build on it.

His year has certainly started with a bang, scoring 206 in the New Zealand XI’s drawn three-day match against Pakistan at Whangarei, which concluded yesterday.

“Something that I’m lucky to possess is the ability to put bowlers under pressure at times, so I’ve still got to be true to myself in terms of my counterattacking skills, it’s about making sure I balance that out with good defence,” McCullum said today.

“If you can ebb and flow that tempo throughout your innings it gives you the best chance of going big. I guess I did that once over in India and recently in the Pakistan game, too, so hopefully I’m starting to learn that,” he said.

“Mentally I have had to make an adjustment but I’m starting to learn that and hopefully that’s an encouraging sign for what is coming up,” McCullum said.

McCullum was disappointed to miss the three Twenty20 internationals against Pakistan as he was rested by the selectors after recovering from a recurring back problem. (ANI)