New Zealand’s inspirational Brendon McCullum is considered cricket’s best captain at the moment by the world’s media. Even the Australians have acknowledged that his positive, aggressive approach and risk-taking has “put soul back into cricket”, which is the reason that the Black Caps have emerged as the most improved side in all three forms of the game, including reaching their first final at the recent World Cup. The UK’s top cricket scribe, Mike Selvey called him “exceptional” in The Guardian. Always humble, Brendon shies away from all the plaudits that separates him from his teammates. In a recent interview with the New Zealand Herald he was quick to point out that leadership was a team effort. ‘It’s really important to lead by example in a team environment”. he said. And lead by example he does… in bucket loads! His phenomenal batting and fielding are second to none. In fact the Asian media have labelled him the ‘best batsman in the international game at the moment”. The ‘New Zealander of the Year’, finished 2014 with a triple century and two double centuries. He shared a record sixth wicket  352 run partnership against India with B.J. Watling at Wellington’s Basin Reserve last February, becoming the first kiwi to join the elite 300 group. He  finished on 302 to record the highest third innings total in the history of the game. He has the top International Twenty20 score with123 against Bangladesh in 2012 and the second highest T20 total of 158, which he’s achieved twice. In 2008 playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League against the Royal Challengers and more recently for the Birmingham Bears in the T20Blast against Derbyshire last month. His 158 came off only 64 balls!…and is, not surprisingly, the highest score in the English and Welsh domestic competition.

Brendon had a short spell with the Bears after the Black Caps summer tour of the UK. He signed this sketch at his final game against the Yorkshire Vikings at Headingly in Leeds on 24 July 2015.