A campaign that stirred a nation!!!

Late in 2012. New Zealand's Tour of Sri Lanka. They lost the first by ten wickets. The then Kiwi captain Ross Taylor scores 142 and 74 in the second test. They win by 167 runs. One of the greatest away wins for them. Then what happens is one of the worst periods in NZ cricket history. 

Hesson takes away the captaincy from Taylor. Worse that he gives to McCullum, his close personal friend. First series with McCullum as captain, against SA. Taylor not in the team. 1st innings of the 1st test at Cape Town. NZ rolled over for 45. McCullum had Taylor's blood on his hands and at stumps on day one against South Africa, he had blood all over him. Kiwi fans are furious. Martin Crowe, Taylor's personal friend, says he had burnt his NZ blazer. Crisis all over NZ.

McCullum, Hesson and NZC had taken the captaincy away from Taylor after one of their best ever away Test wins. Then they produced a Test series so pathetic. Four series into his ascendancy as captain, he didnt have a single series win. Then the tide started to turn, more so because of the man he replaced as captain. Taylor made 495 runs in 3 tests against WI, as NZ record their first series win under McCullum.

Enough of History Now, Lets move into the turnaround. India turn up in early 2014. He walks in at 30-3 makes 224. NZ win the first test by 40 runs despite a remarkable fightback by India. Next test, Walks in at 94-5, the team needing a further 158 to avoid innings defeat. Goes on to make a first ever triple hundred by a New Zealander. NZ end at 680-8 and draw the game. The turnaround had begun. They are winning more series consistently.

Growing into a formidable force, yet without notice. McCullum is building the team admirably. Taylor is back and contributing, having out behind the differences.

The world sits up and takes note of this during “A Campaign that stirred a nation”. The CWC 2015 campaign. Hosted jointly by the Trans-Tasman rivals, the World Cup was the discovery of a lovable cricket team. Performers all along. Aggression is the mindset. This is McCullum’s Team. Brendon McCullum’s own team.

There is something about this New Zealand cricket team. Something that has swept the country along for the ride over the six weeks. Something that turned a rugby nation temporarily into a cricket country, something that has brought the Black Caps up to the same level as the All Blacks, and lifted Brendon McCullum to the status of Richie McCaw. New Zealand's greatness has been contagious. It all culminated in what could have become NZ’s greatest day in cricket history. But it didn’t. But what they had achieved till then has endeared them to millions of cricket fans across the world.

Their approach to the game has helped them gain a lot of fans and followers. As Michael Clarke and his team-mates held the World Cup aloft on the MCG outfield on the night of March 29, the New Zealanders stood and clapped politely. Then they filed away one by one, ready to head indoors to sympathize. Brendon McCullum was the last man standing, the last one watching the Australians and applauding. It could have been no other way. There is no such award but if a prize existed for Captain of the Tournament, McCullum would have been the only possible winner. His approach has been infectious, his aggressive style responsible not only for New Zealand reaching their first World Cup final, but for dragging the entire nation with them on the journey. And he has done it with incomparable class. His indomitable style of leadership has made himself and his team loved across the world.

The approach not just ended with the WC. They toured England and thrilled another nation. They transformed English Cricket and their approach to ODIs. New Zealand discovered and gave to the world New England. His approach to batting in the test matches raised eyebrows.

“A leader less loved may have taken some stick for each of his innings at Lord's, but McCullum is loved, and not just in his own land. He is charging towards the future, and the game owes him a debt for it.”-Cricinfo. True words these. His style of captaincy and aggressive approach has earned him a lot of fans.

NEW ZEALAND’S WORLD CUP CAMPAIGN HAS STIRRED A NATION. THEIR APPROACH HAS WON THEM A LOT OF FANS. THEY HAVE BECOME THE POSTER BOYS OF CRICKET NOW. BRENDON HAS BUILT A TEAM IN HIS OWN IMAGE. I ONLY HOPE THAT NZ CONTINUE THIS APPORACH AND KEEP THIRLLING US!!!

Hope this hasn’t bored you. Do post your comments.