Fleming wants McCullum to stay on as skipper

New Zealand

Stephen Fleming feels Brendon McCullum should continue to lead the New Zealand side in all formats of the game if they want to continue their rise in world cricket.

A former Black Caps skipper himself, Fleming says the recent World Cup, where New Zealand ended as runners-up behind Australia, demonstrated the need for McCullum to continue in is role.

The Kiwis have been on a steady rise in the world rankings over the last two years and it has largely been down to the positive way the 33 year-old has lead the side.

Fleming wrote in a column for the International Cricket council website: "I hope he opts to carry on in charge of the side across all formats for the foreseeable future.

"He has lifted the Black Caps up by their bootstraps – remember the first match after he was appointed Test captain saw the side bowled out for 45 against South Africa in Cape Town – and he ended the World Cup with his position water-tight."

Although batsman Kane Williamson is highly thought of as a leader within the team, and would be the natural successor to McCullum, Fleming thinks the former wicketkeeper should skipper the side at least until after the T20 World Cup next year.

Fleming continued: "He is a positive leader who leads by example and although Kane Williamson is regarded as the next cab off the rank in terms of captaincy, it would be ideal if McCullum stayed on to continue the work he and coach Mike Hesson have begun, at least until the end of that ICC World Twenty20 at the earliest."

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