Nathan McCullum

Black Caps all-rounder Nathan McCullum has made a habit of leaving the party early this summer.

Otago all-rounder Nathan McCullum has been threatening all summer and yesterday delivered with a stunning innings to help propel his side to a dramatic five-run win against Northern Districts at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Otago's Nathan McCullum hopped across the ditch for a day to help the Sydney Sixers to an emphatic 64-run victory over Adelaide Strikers in last  night's Big Bash League match in Adelaide.

Nathan McCullum will follow in the footsteps of younger brother Brendon when he takes the field in the Australian Big Bash twenty20 tournament tomorrow.

Brendon McCullum has no problem pouring heavy expectation on his older brother during New Zealand's three-pronged Super Eight phase of the Twenty20 cricket world championship.

Offspinner and hard-hitting lower-order batsman Nathan McCullum was a standout performer in pool defeats of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the West Indies, claiming man-of-the-match honours in both.

Otago have made three changes to the side beaten by Canterbury in their last outing for their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against Northern Districts at Whangarei beginning on Saturday.