New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum has put personal disappointment aside by backing newly-appointed Kiwi captain, Ross Taylor.
McCullum and Taylor were both in the running to replace Daniel Vettori, but the selection panel finally selected Taylor as the right man to lead the Kiwis. Taylor, who has played 30 tests and 107 limited-overs internationals, was appointed this week to lead New Zealand in all forms of the sport. Vettori resigned the test captaincy earlier this year and will no longer play ODI and Twenty20 internationals.
But the camaraderie between Taylor and McCullum is strong after the wicketkeeper pledged his support to the new skipper despite missing out on the role he craved desperately.
"Obviously I was disappointed to miss out on something that I desperately wanted but ultimately you've got to move on and I do wish Ross all the best and I definitely support him along that journey," McCullum told Radio Sport.
"I had my opportunity to present my case and to show what I thought was the way forward for New Zealand Cricket and ultimately they decided to go another route and you can't argue with that."
The 29-year-old McCullum who is a veteran of 57 tests and 192 ODIs, said he hoped to continue playing international cricket for another five or six years.
"Inside the first 24 hours when you suffer that disappointment you go through a range of different emotions and different thoughts," he said. "It took me about 24 hours for everything to come clear and that I have a huge opportunity to contribute to this team.
"It is still for me about playing for my country. It always has been. There may be a misconception out there that I'm not like that but I'm incredibly passionate about playing for my country and that will never change." he concluded.
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