The off-spinning all-rounder is a regular member of New Zealand's ODI and T20 teams, but a test cap has eluded the 32-year-old older brother of the national captain.
McCullum has been seen more as a parsimonious bowler, adept at keeping the runs down rather than offering a penetrative edge.
However, that might change when the England tests arrive if the national selectors have reservations about the spin bowling options.
The senior man, Dan Vettori, is battling to recover from long term injuries; off-spinner Jeetan Patel was a major disappointment in South Africa and has had plenty of opportunities; experienced left-armer Bruce Martin is a chance, but his non-selection for the second test in Port Elizabeth was a poor call and hinted at reservations about him on the biggest stage.
Leg-spinners Tarun Nethula and Todd Astle are unlikely to fit the bill, certainly at the first test venue, Dunedin's University Oval.
So McCullum may be the man to do a job in support of the seamers, who are expected to do the bulk of the work in the anticipated seam-friendly conditions in the far south. His batting will certainly help strengthen a lengthy tail, too.
McCullum won himself a second gig in the Indian Premier League yesterday, snapped up for US$100,000 by the new franchise, the Sunrisers Hyderabad, where his teammates will include Sri Lankan batting star Kumar Sangakkara, seasoned Australian hitter Cameron White and Sri Lanka's late-order blaster, Thisara Perera.
A combative type and outstanding fielder, McCullum played the first of his 42 T20s in Durban six years ago, and made himself a regular following an 18-month absence after his debut. His 40 wickets at 18.95 give a clue why he's so highly regarded in that form.
His 43 ODIs since September 2009 have produced 30 wickets at a less flattering 46 but he averages a brisk 20.33 with the bat.
McCullum has never given up on a test cap and after his years of playing against the best for New Zealand, in the IPL and Australia's Big Bash make him an unlikely candidate for stage fright.
And frankly New Zealand, in test terms, can't afford to be ignoring experienced internationals just because they've been pigeon-holed and overlooked until now.
"That's still very much the case," McCullum said last night of his test aspirations.
"In the early part of my career I didn't really show my skills as a first-class bowlers consistently but as I've got older and more experienced I've contributed to winning four-day cricket more frequently."
Seven New Zealand players will feature in the sixth edition of the IPL, starting on April 3.
The highest-priced player at the auction was cocky Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell - who likes to be known as 'The Big Show' - for whom Mumbai Indians forked out $US1 million.
Brendon McCullum is back at the defending champion Kolkata Knight Riders, who start the competition at home against Delhi. The final is also at Kolkata on May 26.
New Zealanders at the IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders: Brendon McCullum (teammates include Jacques Kallis, Eion Morgan, Sunil Narine)
Delhi Daredevils: Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder, who was picked up for $US260,000 at auction (Mahela Jayawardene, David Warner, Morne Morkel, Kevin Pietersen)
Mumbai Indians: James Franklin, Jacob Oram, picked up for $US50,000 (Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, Ricky Ponting, Kieron Pollard)
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Nathan McCullum, bought for $100,000 at auction (Kumar Sangakkara, Cameron White, Thisara Perera)
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Dan Vettori (AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Muttiah Muralitharan)
- David Leggat of the NZ Herald in Whangarei
