Blues snare McCullum
22/01/2009 10:04 AM
New South Wales has pulled off a major coup by signing New Zealand star Brendon McCullum for the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash final against Victoria on Saturday night.
McCullum will also be eligible to play in the Champions League to be staged in India in October, should his IPL team - the Kolkata Knight Riders) not qualify for the tournament.
The Kiwi holds the record for the highest ever innings in a Twenty20 match, scoring an incredible 158 not out off just 73 balls in the first ever IPL match.
"Cricket NSW is thrilled to have secured the services of Brendon McCullum for the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash Final at ANZ Stadium this Saturday night and hopefully for the Champions League later in the year," Cricket NSW Chief Executive David Gilbert said.
"With the potential losses the NSW squad may suffer depending on which two IPL teams qualify for the Champions League, it is vital that we strengthen our squad ahead of that tournament."
"Brendon is one of the most dangerous limited-overs batsman in world cricket and will be a tremendous asset to NSW in terms of his considerable international experience and the match-winning ability he brings."
McCullum will open the batting for New South Wales in the final, and Phillip Hughes is also set to return, leaving Simon Keen and Ed Cowan as the unlucky players to miss out.