Murali was very difficult to face: Brendon McCullum

Nearly two months on from his international retirement, Brendon McCullum has come out with a list of the toughest bowlers he has faced in the past. Speaking to Star Sports, McCullum has named three Australians in the list, perhaps bragging rights for those bowlers.

The former Kiwi batsman has a massive reputation for dismantling bowling attacks. So much was his prowess and his irresistible urge to smack the ball in each and every opportunity he gets. From the spinners, McCullum has said that Muttiah Muralitharan and 45-year old Brad Hogg are the toughest spinners he has faced. While Murali may have well foxed many a batsman during his time, Brad Hogg’s wiliness and guile proved to be difficult for McCullum to handle.

“Murali (Sri Lanka champion Muthiah Muralidaran) was always, for me, incredibly difficult to face, mainly because you had no idea which way it was spinning,” McCullum told Star Sports.

“Brad Hogg, as well, because of his uncanny bowling action and his ability to turn it both ways.

Although McCullum has been seen in ease while facing the quicker bowlers, the former New Zealand batsman has cited that Brett Lee and Mitchell Starc were the toughest pace bowlers he faced. Starc was the hero in the recent World Cup triumph on home soil.

“I think Brett Lee when he was in his pomp. He was fast, wasn’t he? “And probably Mitchell Starc too of more recent times.”

Muralitharan played four Tests against McCullum, dismissing him on four occasions. Two occasions were in Wellington and twice more in Colombo. Three of the four dismissals were bowled. McCullum was Mitchell Starc’s first ever Test match wicket. In 20 one-day internationals, Lee outed McCullum five times, the second-most by any bowler, with India’s left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan leading the way with six dismissals.

What’s the roadblock between Malinga and the IPL? – Lasith Malinga faces SLC hurdle to feature in the IPL