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New Zealand’s sixth-wicket pair helps put a strong total which proved to be 21 too many for South Africa

Firdose Moonda16-Jul-2025New Zealand’s new coach Rob Walter – who is also South Africa’s old white-ball coach – began his tenure with a win but his previous team made his current one work for it.Chasing 174, South Africa were 111 for 7 in the 14th over before George Linde struck 30 from 20 balls and shared a 37-run stand with Gerald Coetzee. South Africa needed 31 runs from the last three overs but Linde holed out against Jacob Duffy who ended the contest with two wickets in two balls.That meant New Zealand’s joint second-highest score against South Africa of 173 proved to be enough on a surface where short balls proved to be the most challenging. Three of New Zealand’s top five were undone by back of a length deliveries and they were wobbling on 70 for 5 in the 10th over before Tim Robinson and South African-born debutant Bevon Jacobs put on 103 – New Zealand’s second-highest sixth-wicket partnership in T20Is. Their stand, which included 43 runs off the last three overs, is also only the eighth century stand in a men’s T20I for the sixth-wicket or lower.South Africa did not have a partnership anywhere close to that. Their highest was 39 between Dewald Brevis and Linde, also for the sixth wicket, in a shortened line-up. With Senuran Muthusamy in at No.4 and the all-rounders starting from Linde at No.7, South Africa may want to tinker with their combination ahead of Sunday’s clash against Zimbabwe.New Zealand, who were without Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra as they were involved in the MLC final, will be pleased with Matt Henry’s return to the side after injuring his shoulder at the Champions Trophy. He finished with 3 for 34.Gerald Coetzee played his first international game since November 2024•Zimbabwe Cricket

Jury’s out as Coetzee hits the comeback trail

Coetzee last played for South Africa in a Test against Sri Lanka in Durban in November last year, where he injured his groin. He made a brief comeback in the SA20 but hurt his hamstring and spent more time on the sidelines. After returning to fitness at the IPL, a lack of long-form bowling meant he was not considered for June’s World Test Championship final but the plan was always to bring him back in white-ball cricket.He made his comeback after nine months and was given the ball in the final over of the powerplay. His first three balls were pacy (without Hawk-Eye it was not possible to tell exactly what speed) and on a good length before he went fuller and then to his signature back-of-a-length. He only gave away a wide in the first over. Robinson pulled the second ball of his second over in front of square but when Daryll Mitchell tried to repeat the dose two balls later, he top-edged and Kwena Maphaka, at deep square leg, did the rest.Coetzee was too short in his third over which cost 13 runs and then lost his lengths in his final over to finish with figures of 1 for 39, which was South Africa’s most expensive.Tim Robinson launches a six•Zimbabwe Cricket

Robinson’s career best powers New Zealand over 170

Robinson announced himself when he advanced down the track to meet the last ball of Linde’s first over and launch it over his head and the sightscreen for the innings’ first six. His first three partners – Mitchell, Mitchell Hay and James Neesham – were dismissed in single figures (Neesham for a duck), but when debutant Bevon Jacobs joined him, runs came easier. The pair saw off Muthusamy and took on the seamers. They were particularly severe on Coetzee, against whom Robinson reached fifty with the shot of the innings. Coetzee banged it in short, Robinson backed away and hit him over backward point for six off the 42nd ball he faced. He was equally adept at taking on the full delivery and sent two Corbin Bosch yorkers for four before finishing with a flourish and pulling Coetzee over square leg for his third six.

Pretorius comes out swinging

After a golden duck in the series opener, Lhuan-dre Pretorius came out with good intent in his second T20I, determined to get some runs. He creamed Henry’s second ball – too full and too wide – through the covers for four and gave the next one, which was much better in line and length, the same treatment. Duffy’s overpitched and Pretorius hit him back over his head for four and then finally went leg-side when he pulled Duffy for his fourth four. Pretorius faced 13 of the first 14 balls in the innings and scored 21 runs from them, including five boundaries. He managed one more when he drove Henry aerially toward mid-on, where Duffy parried it away for four, but then guided a Henry delivery that angled away straight into Tom Seifert’s gloves to end an energetic knock.Mitchell Santner celebrates a wicket with his team-mates•Zimbabwe Cricket

New Zealand’s fielding to the fore

New Zealand threatened to find a South African batter short of the crease when Reeza Hendricks, on 13, only just made it in as a direct hit came in. Three overs later, Rassie van der Dussen was not quite as lucky. He was on 6 when he nudged Mitchell Santner into the leg side and Brevis called him through for a single. Van der Dussen hesitated while Seifert ran around to throw the ball to the stumps at the bowler’s end and missed. Santner had to clean up and was still on the ground when targeted the stumps again and hit. New Zealand did not think they had reacted quickly enough to get a wicket but replays showed van der Dussen was short of his ground. South Africa were 62 for 5 in the ninth over and needed 112 runs from 68 balls to win. Brevis’ 35 and Linde’s 30 took them close but South Africa were bowled out for 152 inside 19 overs to lose by 21 runs.

Asalanka is standing in for the suspended Wanindu Hasaranga

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-2024Charith Asalanka will stand in as Sri Lanka captain in place of the suspended Wanindu Hasaranga for the first two of three T20Is against Bangladesh starting March 4 in Sylhet. Asalanka, the designated vice-captain, will be leading Sri Lanka for the first time.Sri Lanka have brought in opening batter Avishka Fernando in place of Pathum Nissanka, who is recovering from the injury he sustained during the series against Afghanistan recently. Legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay, who last played a T20I in February 2022, has been recalled too.Hasaranga, who was suspended for two T20Is by the ICC following his run-in with umpire Lyndon Hannibal in the third T20I against Afghanistan on February 21, will be returning as captain for the final T20I on March 9.Related

• Kusal Perera ruled out of Bangladesh T20Is with respiratory infection

• Shakib out of Bangladesh's white-ball squads against SL

• Hasaranga suspended for two T20Is for outburst against umpire

Fernando came into the squad largely on the back of good ODI form. In the series against Afghanistan, he had hit 91 off 66 balls and a run-a-ball 88 in two of the three games. He last played a T20I in January last year, and has been an inconsistent presence in Sri Lanka’s squad owing to a combination of fitness and form. However, Sri Lanka’s new set of selectors appear to want to reintegrate him into the top teams.Vandersay, meanwhile, last played a T20I two years ago. He is there essentially as cover for Hasaranga in the matches for which Hasaranga is suspended. Akila Dananjaya and Maheesh Theekshana are the other frontline spinners in the squad.The first T20I is scheduled for March 4. The whole series will be played in Sylhet.Sri Lanka T20I squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (capt for last game), Charith Asalanka (capt for first two games), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Dilshan Madushanka, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay

Usman Khawaja and Michael Neser made half-centuries to rescue Queensland

AAP31-Oct-2022Jhye Richardson was at his miserly best as Western Australia took the first-day honours in their Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland in Perth.Richardson snared 4 for 40 from 20.2 overs to skittle Queensland for 211, with the performance a timely boost for the 26-year-old as he attempts to win back his Test spot.In reply, WA finished the day at 1 for 3 after Mark Steketee removed the scalp of Sam Whiteman for a first-ball duck. Corey Rocchiccioli was sent in as a nightwatchman, and he survived eight balls to ensure WA didn’t lose any more wickets.Related

• Patterson edges past Bradman on rain-interrupted opening day

• Silk cuts loose with career-best hundred to give Tasmania victory chance

Queensland were in a world of pain at 5 for 86 before Usman Khawaja and Michael Neser guided the visitors out of danger.Richardson looked uncomfortable at times on Monday, but he revealed after play that the problem wasn’t serious.”It’s just the fat pad on my heel,” Richardson said. “I get a bit of impingement. It bruises up and gets a bit sore. But I managed to get through with some goodies from the doctor, and I’ll be raring to go for the next innings.”Queensland struggled for runs on the green WACA deck, with the star-studded top order crumbling.  Matthew Renshaw, Joe Burns, and Marnus Labuschagne all fell cheaply as the visitors crashed to 3 for 26.Richardson set the tone for the day when he found the edge of Renshaw with the fifth ball of the morning. Alarm bells were ringing for Queensland when Aaron Hardie bowled Labuschagne before getting Burns to edge behind.Khawaja and Jack Clayton combined for a 44-run partnership that spanned 22.1 overs. Clayton eventually fell at the hands of Lance Morris, and Queensland crashed to 5 for 86 when Jimmy Peirson inside edged Richardson through to the keeper.Khawaja proved a stiffer obstacle to remove, but his innings was finally ended when he was stumped off the bowling of spinner Rocchiccioli.Neser was given a life on 14 just before the break when a diving Cameron Bancroft dropped a difficult one-handed chance at second slip. His half-century ensured Queensland made it past 200.Veteran Shaun Marsh was a notable absentee yet again for WA when the squads were lodged. Marsh had been tracking well in his recovery from a knee injury, but his comeback plans were scuppered by a recent calf tear.

United knocked out in the second eliminator after producing PSL’s best-ever league stage performance

Danyal Rasool22-Jun-2021The league stage suggested that Islamabad United were red-hot favourites for their third PSL title, but a comprehensive Peshawar Zalmi performance guaranteed that they wouldn’t even make it to the final.A ruthless bowling performance from Zalmi was followed up by a clinical chase, spearheaded by the irrepressible Hazratullah Zazai and debutant Jonathan Wells. Their 126-run partnership led to an eight-wicket rout of Shadab Khan’s side, with the chase of 176 was achieved with more than three overs to spare.Zalmi were on top from start to finish, aside from a four-over spell at the back-end of the first innings, where a spirited Hasan Ali knock ensured that United would at least remain competitive in the contest. The match began with an unfortunate run-out of Usman Khawaja when Shoaib Malik was controversially deemed to have got his foot to a ball that went on to clatter into the non-striker’s stumps. Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz kept a lid on things, even if Colin Munro cut loose from time to time, ending up as United’s most potent hope in the first half of the innings.But it was the middle stages where Zalmi pulled clear. Amad Butt and Umaid Asif came back in strongly to pick up regular wickets, with Shadab, Iftikhar Ahmed and Brandon King all falling cheaply. There was a danger that United would end up being bowled out under 120 before Hasan’s brutal onslaught gave his side hope.In reply, United kept Zazai on a leash for the most part, bowling away from his hitting arc. But the failure to get more wickets up top meant there was always the fear that Zalmi had enough firepower at the end to catch up with a climbing run rate. Wells and Zazai saw off the pressure without throwing their wickets away, the Australian doing particularly well in his first game to adjust to conditions and pace his innings accordingly. It was in Shadab’s third over that they cut loose, smashing the United captain for three sixes in four balls on a forgettable day for Shadab; he would go on to concede 55 in his four. He has never been as expensive in PSL history, and his team was on the ropes.Zazai and Wells seemed to mirror each other for most of the stand, which was finally broken after 126 hard-fought runs when Zazai chopped on to Mohammad Wasim. The asking rate was almost run-a-ball by then, and a Shoaib Malik blitz – 32 off 10 balls – made light work of the last rites.The Hasan Ali cameo Is it really a cameo if a player ends up being their side’s top-scorer? United looked like they had blown their chances at a spot in the final spectacularly after a listless display from the top and middle-order saw them reduced to 110 for 8. Crucially, though, Hasan was still out there, and he wasn’t in the mood to simply bat out 20 overs. Two fours and two sixes off Asif’s 17th over just whet his appetite as the 26-year old let loose in a blur of monstrous shot-making. Zalmi were guilty of being one-paced to him, and Ali loved the ball coming onto the bat; Riaz was tonked for 19 in the penultimate over as the two-time champions plundered 64 off the final four.Wasim offered fantastic support at the other end, thumping a pair of sixes on his own as the frontal assault continued from both sides. Hasan, meanwhile, was heroically run out trying to get back on strike for the final delivery, having raced to a sizzling 45 off 16. No player deserved a half-century more, but the knock had given his side more than a fair chance.Mohammad Irfan’s eventful dayPlenty went on with Irfan today, but one thing it really shouldn’t detract everyone from is the veteran’s unerring consistency of performance. For the third consecutive game, Irfan conceded exactly 21 runs in his four overs, astonishing figures as bowlers around him have found themselves clubbed to all parts. The pace and length variations continue to remain unpredictable, as batters as diverse as power hitters and anchors struggle to settle against the giant Zalmi bowler.He also doubled up with the priceless wicket of Munro at a time when the New Zealander had helped United off to a flying start and looked exceptionally threatening. He was unfortunate not to have had him a few balls earlier, coaxing an outside edge that Kamran Akmal spilled. Off the final ball of the over, though, Munro played at one down leg side, and this time, Irfan had the wicket he deserved.It wasn’t – as we now know – what will dominate Irfan-related chat in the game’s aftermath. He pulled up with an injury at the end of his spell umpire Aleem Dar deemed less than convincing, refusing to allow a substitute fielder in his place. That meant Zalmi were forced to play with just ten players for a brief period before Khalid Usman was permitted to come on as a cover. But Irfan’s most salient contribution to the contest had already been made.Where they stand United are eliminated despite boasting the best ever group stage performance in the PSL. Zalmi go through to face Multan Sultans in Thursday’s final.

The month of June, however, is usually one of the wettest in Bangladesh. A June Test against India in 2015 was met with rain on most days

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Mar-2020The BCB has announced the dates for Australia’s tour of Bangladesh in June. The visitors will play the first Test from June 11 in Chattogram, while the second Test is from June 19 in Dhaka.The board, however, did not mention the exact arrival dates for Australia, or the four-day practice match but with Bangladesh only departing the UK – after their T20Is against Ireland – on May 30, it must be between June 1 and 8.June is one of the wettest months in Bangladesh, with the BCB having hosted one Test in 2015, a rainy draw against India in Fatullah. Considering the 120 points at stake – at 60 points for a win per Test match – the wet conditions put Bangladesh and Australia’s ability to earn maximum points at risk.This will be Australia’s third Test tour of Bangladesh, having played Tests here in 2006 and 2017. Bangladesh, however, have not played Test in Australia since 2003.

The fast bowler, who has made a comeback from major back problems this season, picked up the injury against Melbourne Renegades

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2019Fast bowler James Pattinson has suffered another injury setback after a side strain ruled him out of the remainder of the Big Bash.Pattinson, who plays for Brisbane Heat, picked up the injury against Melbourne Renegades on Thursday. He had bowled with eye-catching pace during the tournament, collecting four wickets in five matches with an economy rate of 6.76.The Heat are currently second-bottom of the table with two wins from six matches as the tournament reaches the halfway mark.This season has marked Pattinson’s return from major back surgery in late 2017 and his workload was carefully managed during the first part of the Sheffield Shield season with Victoria where he claimed nine wickets in four matches.He has been talked about as a potential for the Ashes tour later this year if his body holds up to the demands of first-class cricket so he will hope he can recover for the end-of-season Sheffield Shield stint when it resumes after the Big Bash in late February.Early in the Big Bash, Pattinson was involved on a controversial incident when he was given run out by the third umpire against Adelaide Strikers even though his bat was clearly across the line. The Strikers withdrew their appeal to allow Pattinson to continue his innings.

Tim Seifert’s century set up a massive first-innings score of 456 before Ish Sodhi chipped away at Otago to return a match haul of nine wickets, including a five-for on the final day

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2017A century from opener Brad Wilson and fifties from Shawn Hicks and Anaru Kitchen were in vain as Otago suffered a 25-run defeat against Northern Districts in their pursuit of 344. The key performer for Northern Districts, in their first win of the tournament this season, was legspinner Ish Sodhi, who finished with nine wickets in the match, including a five-for in the second innings.Otago had resumed on the fourth morning at 15 for 0, and two early strikes by Sodhi reduced them to 47 for 3. A 142-run fourth-wicket partnership between Wilson and Hicks revived Otago but Sodhi and Anton Devcich quashed any chances Otago may have had with a series of quick wickets. The batting side went from 189 for 3 to 205 for 7, with Devcich claiming the big wickets of Hicks and Wilson, who had compiled 111 off 228 balls. The remaining 139 runs were too much for Otago’s tail-enders, despite a 62-run partnership between Kitchen (69 not out off 91 balls) and Nathan Smith.Earlier in the match, Sodhi’s 4 for 75 had complemented fast bowler Brent Arnel’s 5 for 76, as Northern Districts dismissed Otago for 248 to take a 208-run first-innings lead. Otago batsmen got starts, with Hamish Rutherford (67) and Derek de Boorder (55) going on to make fifties, but Northern Districts kept the pressure by not allowing partnerships to flourish.The 208-run lead meant that Northern Districts held an edge in the match, despite a second-innings batting collapse that saw them declare their innings at 135 for 9. Only three batsmen made a score in excess of 20, while the nine wickets were picked up by fast bowler Jacob Duffy (5-49) and left-arm wristspinner Michael Rippon (4-30).Northern Districts’ first-innings batting display was far more dominant, despite a middle-order stutter. Their score of 456 was underpinned by wicketkeeper Tim Seifert’s third first-class hundred – an unbeaten 167 that lifted the side from 198 for 5. Seifert had support from Daryl Mitchell (60) and shared a seventh-wicket stand of 116 with Ish Sodhi (48), before he took the lead in a tenth-wicket stand of 57 that took the side past 450.

Adam Wheater’s second century of the season helped Hampshire pick up three batting points in their crucial Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge

ECB Reporters Network13-Aug-2016
ScorecardAdam Wheater made his second hundred of the season (file photo)•Getty Images

Adam Wheater’s second century of the season helped Hampshire pick up three batting points in their crucial Specsavers County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. The 26-year old scored 102, getting his runs from 147 balls, with 12 fours and a six as his side reached 319 before bowled out in 83 overs.Half-centuries from Lewis McManus and Liam Dawson backed up Wheater’s fine effort, with Luke Wood taking 3 for 53 for the hosts. Nottinghamshire responded with 39 for 1 in the final 11 overs of the day.With the two county sides entering this round of matches occupying the bottom two places in the Division One table, the opening stages were inevitably important after Hampshire had won the toss and opted to bat first.Wood, playing his first Championship match of the season, led Nottinghamshire’s charge by nipping out both openers and then returned to the attack to dismiss Liam Dawson just before lunch. The 21-year old struck early, capturing the wicket of Jimmy Adams in his second over. The batsman caressed his second boundary through the covers off the young left-arm seamer but then lost his off bail to a perfectly-pitched away-swinger.Will Smith, skippering Hants against his former county, made 12 but was then pinned on the crease by Wood and was given out lbw. Dawson dominated the third-wicket stand of 65 but lost his partner as the first session drew towards a close. Tom Alsop, who had battled for 92 minutes in making 17, fell lbw whilst trying to sweep in Samit Patel’s first over.Notts skipper Chris Read brought back Wood and his first delivery prompted Dawson to pop up a simple catch to Michael Lumb at short midwicket.Harry Gurney took the only wicket to fall during the middle session, pinning Ryan McLaren lbw for 16 but the sixth-wicket pair of Wheater and McManus steadied the ship during a stand of 123. McManus, who reached his fifty from 101 balls, was superbly caught for 56 by Chris Read after being surprised by a short-pitched ball from Steven Mullaney.Wheater’s fine knock ended shortly after he had reach three figures, tamely chipping Imran Tahir to midwicket. Hampshire’s last four wickets fell for 15 as Mason Crane and Brad Wheal departed without scoring, before Andy Carter, on his Hampshire debut, was mopped up by Ball for 4.When Notts batted, Jake Libby became the fifth batsmen to be dismissed lbw when he was pinned by McLaren for 11. Jake Ball, sent in as nightwatchman, was put down by Adams at second slip, leaving the first day honours just about even.

Worcestershire won a final-over thriller against Lancashire at Old Trafford by two wickets to claim a fourth NatWest T20 Blast win from six matches, with Ben Cox the match-winner.

ECB/PA18-Jun-2015
ScorecardBen Cox proved the match-winner for Worcestershire•Getty Images

Worcestershire won a final-over thriller against Lancashire at Old Trafford by two wickets to claim a fourth NatWest T20 Blast win from six matches, with Ben Cox the match-winner. Lancashire failed to defend 164 with a ball to spare in a clash which saw both teams struggle at times with the bat and only one half-century scored by visitors’ captain Daryl Mitchell – 53 off 40 balls.Lancashire looked favourites to win after making 163 for 5, with Worcester needing 44 off 26 balls when they slipped to 120 for 5 on the back of offspinner Arron Lilley’s impressive 1 for 19.But Cox hit Saqib Mahmood for a six and four late in the 17th over to change things. Two wickets fell in the last over, brilliantly bowled by James Faulkner, as seven off six balls became six off two, only for the wicketkeeper to smash the Australian over wide long-on for six. He and Brett D’Oliveira, 22 off 14, shared a crucial 37 in 3.2 overs for the sixth wicket. Cox made 22 not out off 13.

Insights

Worcestershire had ten double-figure overs, and although Lancashire scored 21 off one over–the largest over of the match, and 18 off another, the second largest over of the match, they managed just four double figure overs in their innings. Lancashire posted the total with sporadic and concentrated attack; Worcestershire reached it with sustained attack. Lancashire may well look back on the final five overs of their innings and reflect that some harder running or a boundary here or there could’ve made the difference. Lancashire scored 45 from their final five, while Worcestershire managed 53 from 4.5.
Freddie Wilde

Despite the early loss of Liam Livingstone to Joe Leach, Lancashire got off to a flyer as second-wicket pair Ashwell Prince and Karl Brown, who top-scored with 42 off 24 balls, shared 71 in 7.1 overs. The hosts reached 50 after 4.4 overs having taken 39 off the third and fourth overs from Jack Shantry and Leach.But after Brown’s dismissal, slog-sweeping Saeed Ajmal to deep mid-wicket – 73 for two after 8.3 overs – the hosts’ innings stalled in the face of spin from Ajmal, Moeen Ali and D’Oliveira. They failed to score a boundary for seven overs from the start of the eighth to the start of the 15th as Prince also fell top-edging a sweep off Moeen. Steven Croft and Faulkner added 49 in 6.3 overs to give this innings impetus before falling late on to Ajmal and Shantry.Mitchell hit three boundaries off Faulkner in the sixth over as the visitors, who lost Moeen caught at midwicket off Jordan Clark, moved to 52 for 1 in reply. Lilley trapped Tom Kohler-Cadmore lbw sweeping with his second ball, leaving the score at 63 for 2 in the eighth, before Worcestershire also struggled through the middle overs.Lancashire cut off the twos and prevented a boundary between midway through the seventh over and five balls into the 13th. Fifteen came off the 13th from Clark, taking the score to 96 for 2, before Mitchell brought up a 32-ball fifty in the next, only to see Colin Munro run out going for two to deep cover.When Mahmood trapped Mitchell lbw with the first ball of the 15th, Worcestershire had lost two in two balls and were 108 for 4. Croft took a fine running catch at long-off to help Tom Bailey get rid of Ross Whiteley in the next as the target became 44 off 26 balls, but the visitors prevailed in a helter-skelter finish which saw D’Oliveira, Leach and Ed Barnard fall in the last seven balls.

Brendon McCullum has said he is concerned for his predecessor as well as the team as it tries to pull itself together ahead of a tough tour of South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff08-Dec-2012Brendon McCullum, who took over as New Zealand captain under controversial circumstances after Ross Taylor refused an offer to remain as the leader of the Test team in a split-captaincy scenario, has said he is concerned for his predecessor as well as the team ahead of a tough tour of South Africa. Taylor has asked for a break and will not be travelling to South Africa.”I’m more concerned now with how the team is handling the situation and where we go from here – how we try and galvanise the unit, rather than my own individual accolade of picking up the captaincy,” McCullum told reporters at a press conference in Lincoln. “I’m obviously worried for Ross and how he is dealing with things at the moment, and obviously how we try and ensure that we pull together this team inside a very short space of time for what is going to be an incredibly tough tour.”McCullum said he had been in touch with Taylor, who said on Friday he felt he never had the support of New Zealand coach Mike Hesson. “I’ve spoken to him a couple of times – two days ago and then left a message with him again this morning – but he obviously needs a little bit of space at the moment as well, and I thought he did a really good job yesterday with the media of being able to deal with some tough circumstances,” McCullum said. “Ross is an integral member of this team and he’s vitally important to us in terms of how we’re going to try and increase our performances. He’s also a very popular member of the team as well and there’s a lot of guys that will be feeling for him at the moment – we will welcome him back when he’s good and ready.”I know it hasn’t been a great process with the way it’s unfolded and I know there is a lot of anger towards it.”I guess from our point of view, we now need to try and move forward and get some faith back into this team and build some rapport with the public because that’s obviously taken a hit over the last seven days.”McCullum was upset at speculation that he may have had a role to play in the entire episode. “That’s probably the thing that has come out through this week that’s annoyed me the most. I guess that cuts right to the bone that someone would question your integrity and your character like that.”I guess it’s been mentioned on a number of occasions and to be totally honest, it is highly insulting, for people to cast aspersions when they certainly don’t know the full circumstances.”From my point of view, I had absolutely no involvement in that recommendation whatsoever. I was asked if I would lead the one-day and Twenty20 teams two days ago, and then yesterday I was asked if I would lead the Test team, after Ross turned it down so about as much involvement I’ve had in this situation.”Relations between Taylor and himself, McCullum said, were very good. “It’s only really been media hype and fiction over the last 16 months, since the captaincy selection of Ross, which tried to drive a wedge between Ross and I.”In terms of the public profile, we’ve got a very good and respectful relationship. We know each other, we’ve played with each other for a very long time and we know each others families.”McCullum hoped to welcome Taylor back to the New Zealand side and sympathised with Taylor for the situation he finds himself in. “I don’t want to sit here and talk about how hard it’s been on me, because it’s certainly been a lot harder on other people, but you know that as long as, through your dealings, that you are honest and you maintain your integrity throughout, then you can look yourself in the eye and know that you’re doing the right thing.”Now Ross is going through some tough times and my thoughts are with him.”When he is good and ready to come back, then we’ll certainly welcome him back, and I’ll be looking to help him as much as I possibly can to reach the standards he wants to reach in this game, to be an integral member of this team and play a vital part in that.”