McCullum's huge call on opening partner

Former New Zealand and current Brisbane Heat skipper Brendon McCullum has revealed which of Kane Williamson or Chris Lynn he'd prefer as an opening partner in Twenty20s – with some entertaining reasoning behind his choice.

McCullum, who has been spending time at home in New Zealand before the start of the Caribbean Premier League next month, made a guest appearance on New Zealand Rugby's All Blacks podcast last week.

During a light-hearted segment where he answered questions posed by fans on social media, McCullum faced an agonising choice between club and country when asked whether he'd rather open the batting in a T20 with current Black Caps captain Kane Williamson, or his BBL 'Bash Bro' Chris Lynn.

"That's a terrible question," McCullum laughed. "That's like asking which is your favourite son or favourite daughter."

McCullum and Williamson batted together seven times in T20Is for New Zealand, averaging 31, while McCullum and Lynn have forged a reputation as the most exciting partnership in Australian T20 cricket with their exploits for Brisbane in the KFC Big Bash.

McCullum opted to focus on off-field attributes in a light-hearted comparison of the talented pair, before he made his choice – and issued a plea for forgiveness.

"So Kane, he would be ultimate person for your daughter to marry, if that makes sense. Absolutely love him and he's a genius cricketer," he said.

"Chris Lynn is the fella you want to be having a beer with at the pub after the races and he's a ripping fella as well and he hits the ball miles.

"I'd say Chris Lynn… don't take any offence Kane!"

McCullum and Lynn will take the Bash Brothers to the world next month, with the pair to feature for the same Caribbean Premier League side.

Both Lynn (US$130,000) and McCullum ($90,000) were snapped up by the Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL draft in March.

McCullum was also quizzed about his most memorable six from his international career, with the 36-year-old naming the maximum he struck off South Africa pace ace Dale Steyn during the 2015 World Cup semi-final at Eden Park.

There, McCullum blazed three sixes off Steyn during a whirlwind innings of 59 from 26 deliveries – with his effort from the first ball of the fifth over taking the cake.

New Zealand would go on to win a thriller with one ball remaining – courtesy of a maximum from Grant Elliot – to seal their place in the decider.

"I came down the wicket and hit him back over his head," he said. "He's given me nightmares in the past so it was nice when everything was at stake to be able to get one out of the screws."

With a two-month gap between the end of the Indian Premier League and the start of the CPL, McCullum has been keeping himself busy on a different sort of sporting field, playing club rugby union in Matamata on New Zealand's north island.

"I had a couple months in between tournaments and I always said I'd love to go and have another crack at rugby," he said. "One of my mates is manager of the Matamata B side here and they were a bit short on numbers so he said, 'why don't you line up'. And with me being a reasonably impulsive person, I decided, 'yeah that's a great idea'.

"We've won our last three and now is the right time for me to finish my season because I've got a tournament (the CPL) in four weeks, and this morning I could barely get out of bed, I was that sore. But it was good fun."