Nana couldn't be more proud

A young Brendon McCullum (left) and brother Nathan were cricket-mad ''right from little wee...
A young Brendon McCullum (left) and brother Nathan were cricket-mad ''right from little wee tackers''. Photo supplied.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's grandmother Alison Smith gives the Black Caps the thumbs...
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum's grandmother Alison Smith gives the Black Caps the thumbs up yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum got a text about midnight on Tuesday from the heart of South Dunedin.

The text read, ''Great campaign by all the team and congratulations. Wish you well for the final.''

It came from an 80-year-old who has become a slightly unwilling celebrity at the Telex Cricket Club housie in Hillside Rd.

McCullum's Nana was yesterday feeling just a little embarrassed by the attention, after a Tuesday night of ''very nail-biting'' cricket in which her grandson captained his team to the World Cup final, and provided a swashbuckling 59 runs in just a few overs.

Alison Smith said her nights at housie had become public events.

''The joker up calling said, `Oh, we've got Brendon's grandmother playing with us tonight'.''

That brought a round of applause from the punters.

''Yeah, oh yeah,'' Mrs Smith responded when asked about the event.

''I could have flattened him.''

Despite the attention being unwanted, she admitted the recognition of the World Cup heroics of her grandson was nice.

''It is, it's a very proud time.

''A bit teary, I suppose,'' was her description of the feeling.

Mrs Smith and husband Barry said they had fond memories of Brendon and his brother, New Zealand squad member Nathan, playing at the camping ground the couple ran at Waikouaiti for 23 years, ''which gave them plenty of ground to play''.

The pair, the children of her son Otago cricketer Stu McCullum, were cricket-mad ''right from little wee tackers - both of them''. And Brendon, known for his aggressive batting, had always been confident.

''He's always had the confidence he could give it a go,'' Mrs Smith, who played hockey for Taranaki, said.

The family had always been sports-minded, with plenty of national hockey representatives among second cousins and uncles.

Mr Smith recalled Brendon playing rugby for Kings High School.

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