McCullum's rash slash draws Chappell's ire

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum lives, and dies, by the sword in a cricketing sense.

And it doesn't make any sense to one former Australian captain.

Quick Single: Starc strikes have NZ in trouble

McCullum's rash dismissal on Friday's opening day of the inaugural day-night Test match at Adelaide Oval earnt a swift rebuke from Ian Chappell.

Chappell couldn't believe his eyes when McCullum, with his side in the mire at 4-98, slashed at a short, wide Mitchell Starc delivery.

The aggressive skipper got a thick edge which flew high and to the right of wicketkeeper Peter Nevill, who gloved the catch – leaving the Kiwis 5-98.

"There are times you have to be a bit more responsible, as a captain in particular," Chappell said on Channel Nine.

"He doesn't appear prepared to show that."

Quick Single: Legacy on the line for McCullum's men

For McCullum, it was a reckless end to one of his final Test innings in Australia – he conceded on Thursday he was unlikely to be around the next time New Zealand embark on a Test tour of Australia.

Dismissed for four, McCullum now has only 117 runs this series at an average of 29.25 – and the bulk of his scoring came in an innings of 80 in the first Test.