Fleming calls on 'inspirational' McCullum to continue leading Black Caps in all three formats

Former New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming has said that Brendon McCullum's inspirational captaincy has lifted the nation and the big-hitting batsman should continue to lead the side in all the three formats of the game until next year's World Twenty20 tournament.

Since last year, New Zealand at home have won Test series against India, West Indies and Sri Lanka and dazzled in 50-overs and made it to their maiden Cricket World Cup final at Melbourne, where they lost to eventual winners Australia.

Australia won the coveted trophy but for six weeks, New Zealand displayed an aggressive brand of cricket which earned them eight successive victories in the tournament, Sport24 reported.

Former skipper Daniel Vettori and seamer Kyle Kills have since retired but Fleming hoped that McCullum would stick around to continue the good work. He is hoping that the current skipper opts to carry on in charge of the team across all formats for the foreseeable future.

Fleming said that McCullum has lifted New Zealand squad up by their bootstraps and added that the skipper ended the World Cup with his position water-tight.

Fleming said that McCullum 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.

The World Twenty20 would be held in India next year, the report added.