Brendon McCullum lauded New Zealand after they trounced England in the second Test match by 199 runs at Headingley on Tuesday.
England were leading the Test series by 1-0 before the Headingley Test as they defeated New Zealand by 124 runs in the first Test at Lord's. The Black Caps bounced back strongly after their defeat and registered an emphatic victory to square the series.
"We bounced back after Lord's. Obviously with a two-Test series we had to force the pace and I thought the guys bought into that and we played a really entertaining brand of cricket," said McCullum at the post-match presentation ceremony at Leeds on Tuesday.
McCullum also went on to praise Kane Williamson, who picked up three crucial wickets in the final day of the second Test match against England at Leeds.
"There's instinct and then there's pure gambling I think....Kane's got a bit of a knack. He's one of those guys who if he's had a quiet Test match you can be pretty sure that he's going to get involved somehow.
"He was outstanding for us with the bat at Lord's and I know he was a bit frustrated with his dismissals in this Test, but he played such a crucial role for us —three for 15 — on the last day of a Test match as a part-time spinner, he just allowed the other guys to be able to settle into their work," McCullum added.
McCullum also heaped praise on BJ Watling who scored a brilliant century in the second innings of the second Test match at Headingley and that powered New Zealand to set a target of 454 runs for England. Watling picked up a knee injury during the first Test at Lord's, but he was still picked for the second Test. Although he did not keep wicket, the player justified the decision of his inclusion with his match-winning ton.
"I thought BJ Watling was outstanding, we love him. He's a tremendous player, he's got a big heart and he's a guy that you can build your team around," McCullum concluded.
