Brendon McCullum lights up Hagley Oval with world record test century video

Brendon McCullum lights up Hagley Oval with world record test century

MARK GEENTY

Around 2.50pm, after the standing ovation had subsided, an eerie calm descended over Christchurch's Hagley Oval. Could anyone believe what they had just witnessed?
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had just strode off, twirling his bat, after smashing a world record 54-ball century on a mesmerising day one of the second cricket test against Australia. The wild two-hour-and-five-minute ride was finally over when Nathan Lyon held a tumbling catch at deep square leg, McCullum out for 145 off 79 balls in his 101st and final test. Those scriptwriters should get a bonus.
This is officially Brendon's house, in his adopted home town. In his other test innings at Hagley, McCullum lit up Boxing Day 2014 with 195 off 134 balls against Sri Lanka, including 11 sixes. On a sun-drenched Saturday with the mercury touching 30degC for the full house of 8000, he blasted six more over the rope from Australia's pacemen. The first of those, smashed straight down the ground off Josh Hazlewood, saw him claim the world record for test sixes off Adam Gilchrist who hit an even 100.

Andrew Cornaga /Photosport

The series-deciding second test is Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum's 101st and last.

McCullum and Corey Anderson partnered up at 74-4 and blazed a fifth wicket stand of 179 off 18.2 overs. Hazlewood had 1-11 off 10 overs at lunch, and his next four overs went for 57. Anderson cracked 72 off 66 balls before he departed, too, trying to hit Lyon out of the ground.

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A spectacular Mitchell Marsh catch to dismiss Brendon McCullum is overturned as the umpire raises his arm, calling "no ball".

With wicketkeeper BJ Watling chiming in with 58 off 57 balls, New Zealand were finally dismissed for 370, way more than they would have hoped for after being sent in.
Just before 2pm the adoring masses stood and roared as McCullum carved Hazlewood through extra cover for four to raise his century, passing the 56-ball record jointly held by Viv Richards and Misbah-ul-Haq.
It was eye-rubbing stuff as grown men clapped and grinned with wide-eyed wonderment. McCullum simply lifted his helmet, raised both arms and was embraced by Anderson who helped him add 100 off just 57 balls.

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Brendon McCullum in his New Zealand cricket blazer for the toss.

McCullum arrived to a standing ovation and guard of honour from the Australian team, and decided attack was the only way. His team were struggling against the ball nipping and leaping from the green seamer they wanted, 32-3 with Kane Williamson scrapping for all he was worth but struggling to lay bat on it. The No 3 finally departed to a brilliant Steve Smith catch for seven, off 69 balls.
Marsh, who dismissed McCullum five times this summer, got the warmest welcome. McCullum took 21 off his first over and blasted two sixes to claim outright ownership of the world record for test sixes, from Gilchrist.
Right from his second delivery, when McCullum swiped at Hazlewood and the edge flew for four, it was McCullum's day.

NZ vs Australia first session

Sky Sport

Morning session highlights from day one of the second test between the Black Caps and Australia.

He was dropped on 32, a very tough return catch by James Pattinson, then on 39 got a huge reprieve. McCullum was brilliantly caught one-handed at gully by Mitchell Marsh, then replays showed Pattinson had overstepped. The crowd roared and McCullum capitalised, raising a 34-ball half-century by charging Jackson Bird straight for six.
Everything came off. McCullum hit straight or it went like a rocket through extra cover. Suddenly the record was in sight. Hazlewood's over went 6, 4, 4, 4 as McCullum cantered to the record with 16 boundaries and four sixes, in just 79 minutes of remarkable counter-attack.
Charging down the wicket and lofting straight, then flat over extra cover, the old McCullum was back after some scratchy recent form. Memories of Boxing Day 2014 were revived.
The top three New Zealand wickets fell cheaply, after Martin Guptill looked positive against the seam and bounce. He was snapped up at short leg off one that hurried on from Pattinson, before Tom Latham's 67-minute stay ended on four when he drove at a full one. Henry Nicholls, in his second test, was trapped in front by Hazlewood and challenged the decision but it was another good one from umpire Richard Kettleborough.
Around 10am a huge roar turned to a collective groan as McCullum flipped the coin. Sure enough, Australian captain Smith called correctly, it flipped up heads and the Black Caps were sent in.
"It will have plenty in it [for the bowlers] for a long time. You'll see a pretty positive batting effort from us," McCullum said, as son Riley joined him in the centre for his final coin toss.
New Zealand went with McCullum's mantra of "fortune favours the brave" and recalled seamers Matt Henry and Neil Wagner to a four-pronged pace attack. It meant two changes from their innings and 52 run defeat in Wellington, with Doug Bracewell out injured and spinner Mark Craig omitted.
It's the first time since February 2014 the Black Caps have gone in without a frontline spin bowler, and they secured a series-clinching draw in that test against India in Wellington when McCullum scored a triple-century.
Australia made one change from Wellington and it was injury-enforced. Pattinson was recalled for his 17th test for the injured Peter Siddle.
It continued a remarkable run in New Zealand tests. It was the 18th successive time the toss-winning captain had chosen to bowl first, but only four of those have gone on to win the match. The Black Caps won their only previous test at Hagley Oval, by eight wickets over Sri Lanka in December 2014 after the hosts were sent in to bat.

 - Stuff