Otago Volts coach Vaughn Johnson has given a ringing endorsement to his captain, Brendon McCullum, saying it was a mistake not to make him the national skipper.
McCullum will lead the Volts in a crunch twenty/20 game against the Auckland Aces in Auckland tonight, and Johnson said McCullum was really coming into his own as captain.
"He is a leader of men. He is very tactically aware and has that calmness about his captaincy. He has really matured as a person and people now lean on him for advice," Johnson said.
"It is a huge plus to have him available for our side. He is very professional in the way he plays the game and the way he sees the game and that makes him the successful cricketer that he is.
"I do think it was a mistake not to make him the national captain. That is not being disrespectful to Ross [Taylor] but, in my mind, I think Brendon was very unlucky to miss out on the captaincy. Ross is a fine player and is learning his way as a captain, but I think Brendon is a more natural captain."
McCullum and Taylor were the two candidates to take over the captaincy of the Black Caps after Daniel Vettori stood aside, with Taylor winning out.
McCullum, though, has maintained a voice in the national team in what is shaping up to be a big summer for him.
McCullum has also signed for the Brisbane Heat in the Australian domestic twenty/20 competition but has made only spasmodic appearances, as the Volts are his No1 priority. He did not play for the Heat midweek when it lost to the Adelaide Strikers, its fourth straight defeat.
Tonight, McCullum will be looking to make an impact against an Aces team that is riding on some good form.
Johnson said the Auckland side was full of talent but then so was his own team.
"They have some match-winners but then, we have too. If we can play to our potential and everything comes together, then we can be very competitive.
"These next two games are pretty big games for us."
Otago sits on 10 points after five games in a competition that is still very close.
With five games left, Johnson said the side probably needed to win three of its remaining games to be in finals contention.
Auckland opener Martin Guptill knocked up an impressive century in the Aces' last outing, against Canterbury, and will be the dangerman with the bat.
With bowlers Kyle Mills and Chris Martin in the attack, Auckland obviously does have plenty of ability.
The weather forecast for Auckland today is promising, with long fine spells due.
Tonight's game will be the first time Otago has been on television this season.
After the game, Otago will head to Wellington tomorrow, to face the Firebirds at the Basin Reserve on Sunday.
OTAGO v AUCKLAND
Colin Maiden Park, today, 5pm
Otago Volts: Brendon McCullum (captain), Nick Beard, Derek de Boorder, Neil Broom, Craig Cumming, Jimmy Neesham, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Nathan McCullum, James McMillan, Aaron Redmond, Craig Smith, Neil Wagner.
Auckland: Gareth Hopkins (captain), Brad Cachopa, Martin Guptill, Azhar Mamood, Anaru Kitchen, Colin de Grandhomme, Colin Munro, Ron Hira, Kyle Mills, Bruce Martin, Michael Bates, Chris Martin.
