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He strides out wearing No 14 – not the 42 made famous by his father – and stands on the other side of the bat.

He’s also in the maroon of Northern Districts rather than the Otago blue and gold more commonly associated with the surname.

But there’s that unmistakable rifle crack sound when a left-handed Riley McCullum shuffles down the wicket and sends a spinner soaring over his head.

Asked if the plan is to play ‘Bazball’, popularly known as the attacking brand of cricket England’s test side adopted in their remarkable run under coach Brendon McCullum, son Riley laughs.

“It probably is, to be honest,” he tells 1News.

With proud dad Brendon and mum Ellissa watching from the grass hill at Lincoln, near Christchurch, Riley McCullum is one of several sons of former Black Caps playing at the national under-19 tournament this week.

Former test opener Craig Cumming’s sons Jacob and Zac are playing for Otago, captained by Thomas O’Connor, son of former test swing bowler Shayne.

It would have been one more at the tournament, too, had Craig McMillan’s son Mitch not been injured.

Batting at No 5, McCullum topsored with 48 in ND’s five-wicket loss to Wellington on Sunday. Wellington batter Muhammad Abbas – the son of former Pakistani first-class cricketer and now Cricket Wellington pace bowling coach Azhar Abbas – crashed 101 not out off 68 balls to guide his team home.

On Monday, McCullum took a catch and a wicket, then was dismissed by Zac Cumming for 14 as ND beat Otago by five wickets, chasing 162.

Brendon McCullum, brother Nathan and father Stu all emerged through Otago’s ranks but Riley plays for Northern Districts after the family moved north to Matamata, Waikato.

The 18-year-old says he wants to follow as much as he can in dad’s bootprints.

“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’,” he told 1News.

Brendon McCullum is home after coaching England to a 3-0 test series sweep in Pakistan, with their next assignment a two-test series against the Black Caps in February.

And the best piece of fatherly advice Riley has received?

“He’s always telling me to not worry about it too much. If you don’t score runs, the runs will come.”

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:05 am Dean Elgar saying what I think everyone already knew, SouthAfrica aren’t playing enough test cricket.

Rhubarb & Custard wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 3:37 pm

Biffer wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 8:05 am Dean Elgar saying what I think everyone already knew, SouthAfrica aren’t playing enough test cricket.

It wasn't an awful series, but certainly the Aussies looked comfortably better. As an aside Nathan Lyons is now rapid, he's basically a different bowler to the one who debuted more than a decade ago.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:37 pm The English been playing themselves in form in SA20. Malan the Galpil obvious sleeps at home.

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:49 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:37 pm The English been playing themselves in form in SA20. Malan the Galpil obvious sleeps at home.

Roy's 85 off 64 here. His SA20 run: 8, 21, 4, 6, 3, 33, 12...

not sure it's what could call "playing yourself into form" really

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:53 pm

JM2K6 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:49 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 4:37 pm The English been playing themselves in form in SA20. Malan the Galpil obvious sleeps at home.

Roy's 85 off 64 here. His SA20 run: 8, 21, 4, 6, 3, 33, 12...

not sure it's what could call "playing yourself into form" really

SA20 is T20 mik en moer and gave him enough time to get use to the conditions.

He is a world class batsman. One Dayers obvious is total different to mik en moer

Sandstorm wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:04 pm Magala is a great find for SA, but he’s a fat bastard who could bowl even better if he lost 5 stone.

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:22 pm Nortje try his best. England have to much class

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:56 pm Big win this

SaintK wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:58 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Fri Jan 27, 2023 6:56 pm Big win this

Yep especially as England were 196 for 3
Very good performance from SA

OomStruisbaai wrote: ↑Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:30 pm Bavuma gets his well deserved ton.