5 biggest controversies in New Zealand cricket

#2 Ross Taylor-Brendon McCullum Cold War

The unseemly controversy that erupted between Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum remains a hugely controversial chapter in the country’s cricket history

They were two of New Zealand’s most influential cricketers for much of their career and responsible for many memorable victories, but things came to a pass over the issue of captaincy.

The unseemly controversy that erupted between Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum remains a hugely controversial chapter in the country’s cricket history.

It all started when New Zealand had to choose a captain following the retirement of Daniel Vettori and the board asked the two most experienced players to present their ideas.

Eventually, it was Taylor who was chosen as the captain. Later on, McCullum wrote in his book that ‘Declared’ that the nature of the process wasn’t perfect and suggested that the public rejection of one over the other wasn’t good for the relationship between the two.

The problems between the two first came out in the open when McCullum (who had been rested) had been summoned to rush to the West Indies and captain the side since Taylor had suffered an injury.

However, it was Kane Williamson who stepped in as captain despite the fact that the former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman had reached on time. At the same time, New Zealand’s performances under Taylor had become embarrassing and the batsman’s time as captain was coming to an end.

The final event that fully confirmed that the two men did not see eye to eye was when Taylor refused the split captaincy arrangement.

McCullum was supposed to lead the limited overs sides, while the middle-order batsman was supposed to be in charge of the Test side.

When he refused, the cricket board made McCullum the captain across formats and the issue was finally settled. It remains among the most controversial episodes in New Zealand’s cricket history.