Bazball 2.0? Brendon McCullum son: In the photos going viral on social media, Brendon McCullum, Test team coach for England and former NewZealand captain was captured enjoying an under-19 game with his wife. He was actually observing his son in action. Riley McCullum competed this week at the national under-19 tournament while his ecstatic parents Brendon and Ellissa watched from a grass hill in Lincoln. Follow InsideSport.IN for LIVE updates about NewZealand Cricket
Another STAR born for NewZealand Cricket? WATCH as Brendon McCullum and his wife observe son Riley play in National Under-19 cricket tournament
What a sight, Brendon McCullum and his wife watching their son playing the National U19 tournament in New Zealand. Bazball 2.0 #PAKvNZ #PakvsNZ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/DX6u86IVGw
— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) January 9, 2023
Riley plays for Northern Districts whereas his father Brendon McCullum, uncle Nathan, and grandfather Stu all played for Otago after the family relocated up north to Matamata, Waikato.
“It’s always been something that I want to do. I still tell him to this day, whenever he says ‘I don’t want to go away and work’, I’m like ‘you’re literally doing what I want to do for the rest of my life’,” Riley was quoted as saying by 1News when he was asked about his relationship with his father.
“He’s always telling me to not worry about it too much. If you don’t score runs, the runs will come,” said Riley.
In Sunday’s five-wicket loss for Northern Districts versus Wellington McCullum who batted at No. 5 made 48 runs to lead the team’s scoring. He not only led ND in scoring but also contributed with a catch.
Bazball 2.0?
Riley laughed when asked if they intended to play “Bazball,” the aggressive style of cricket that England’s Test team favoured during their incredible run under coach Brendon McCullum.
“It probably is, to be honest,” he said.
Riley is not the only “star” child in the young ranks, though. The sons of numerous prominent New Zealand cricketers, including former test opener Craig Cumming and his kids Jacob and Zac, who play for Otago, kept him company. Thomas O’Connor, the son of former test swing bowler Shayne, leads the team as captain.
Muhammad Abbas, a Wellington batter who is the son of former Pakistani first-class cricketer and current Cricket Wellington speed bowling coach Azhar Abbas, scored 101 runs off 68 balls to help his team win.
