New Zealand cricket team captain Brendon McCullum has claimed that it's really humbling to have been named the country's sportsman of the year, and insisted that the gong is very much for the boys.
McCullum had been involved in the dress rehearsal for Thursday's Cricket World Cup opening ceremony in Christchurch when his name was read out at the Halberg Awards dinner on Wednesday. Earlier in the day the skipper had led New Zealand in their final warm-up match, a win over South Africa, so he had to miss the awards.
McCullum claimed that he found out about 10 minutes beforehand and had to do a pre-record, adding that he is sure it was a good night and is also sure that everyone drank plenty of his beers up there as well, Stuff.co.nz reported.
McCullum missed the supreme award, which went to unbeatable rowing pair Hamish Bond and Eric Murray, but still felt immense pride at being the first cricketer to claim the sportsman title since Martin Crowe in 1991.
McCullum beat several of Crowe's records in a stellar 2014, becoming the first New Zealand batsman to hit a Test triple ton, against India, and also the first to reach 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year.
The skipper also paid tribute to Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, who he says are the best three and four they have had in a long time, for his batting success.
McCullum said that it's really humbling but he believes that when one plays a team sport individual accolades are not what one plays for, but he added that at the same time he is very respectful of the whole awards and all those other recipients and competitors.
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McCullum insisted that this one is very much for the boys.
The skipper said that the award is symbolic of the year they have just had, adding that it must be a pretty hard judging process and there's a bit of conjecture around it at times.
McCullum said that for cricket to be in that sort of spotlight is a good thing and right on the eve of the World Cup it can only help the momentum the team has built up till now.