Brendon McCullum’s signing for the NatWest T20 Blast is statement of Warwickshire’s intent in all competitions, according to soon-to-be team-mate Will Porterfield.
The deal for the brilliant New Zealand batsman to play for Birmingham Bears in the second half of the Blast was announced yesterday.
The leading scorer in Twenty20 internationals is in sensational form, having led the Black Caps to the World Cup final with several blistering innings, and will join the Edgbaston-based club in late June after New Zealand’s tour of England.
He could well open the Bears’ batting with Porterfield, who last year helped his club win the Blast and finish runners-up in the LV= County Championship plus the Royal London One-Day Cup.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk, Porterfield said:“We had a great season last year but we can’t rest on our laurels.
“We’ve got to go looking to go even better again this year, and a signing like Brendon for the T20 competition is a sign of what we’re looking to do and a sign of where the club’s at.”
McCullum’s 2,105 T20 international runs have come at an average of 35.67 and an equally-impressive strike-rate of 135.28.
“A player like Brendon, his stats speak for themselves. He’s a fantastic player in that format,” Porterfield added.
“He’s shown what he can do over the last six-to-eight weeks at the World Cup at the top of the order, and that’s exciting not only for us in the changing room but for the fans who are coming down to watch and for the competition.
“Hopefully what he does can rub off on all of us at the club and hopefully if he can bring his experience, bring his knowledge.”
Porterfield is captain of the Ireland team that narrowly missed out on the World Cup quarter-finals, but he did not have to face McCullum and Co who won every game up to the final.
Will Porterfield chats to http://t.co/XgQmjusRX7 about Brendon McCullum and Ian Bell. Write-up coming tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/2UbckGRLqQ
— Rob Barnett (@RobBarnett82) April 1, 2015
“Thankfully he wasn’t in our group so it wasn’t something we had to study too long, but Starc managed to get him pretty early in the World Cup final, which if you’re playing against New Zealand is one you want pretty early,” Porterfield said.
“He can be so destructive in the first 10 overs, throughout the whole 50 really. That was a big wicket for Australia and a big moment in the game.”
McCullum’s signature was followed yesterday by further good news that England batsman Ian Bellyesterday signed a three-year contract extension just before he flies to the West Indies today with England.
“Belly is a Bear through and through. I think he’s been at the club since he was an under-11,” Porterfield added.
“He’s been there a long time and any time he’s not playing for England he’s keen to get back in the dressing room and play for the Bears.”