McCullum unlikely for IPL finals

Brendon McCullum would almost certainly not be released to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) finals in the middle of New Zealand's Test tour of England, according to New Zealand Cricket (NZC). There have been reports that NZC had been approached by the IPL commissioner Lalit Modi with an offer of $1 million to let McCullum skip a tour match starting on May 30 to take part in the IPL deciders.

The three-day game against Northamptonshire comes in between the second and third Tests and it would be possible for McCullum to make a quick trip to India to try to help the Kolkata Knight Riders, although they are not even guaranteed a spot in the finals. But Justin Vaughan, the NZC chief executive, said he could not see the board agreeing to such a plan.

"It's complete news to me," Vaughan told the Dominion Post. "There was some talk after his big hundred in the tournament opener [158 not out off 73 balls] but we said 'no' and we would still say 'no'."

Vaughan was quoted in the English press as saying the decision would be made by the team's coach John Bracewell, but he has since said that would not be the case. "There are multiple layers of approval and it wouldn't just be a case of Braces saying okay," Vaughan said.

"I would doubt it would get past first base, and second or third base would pick it up if first base didn't. I haven't heard anything about it this week. I spoke to Lindsay [Crocker, team manager] last night and he didn't mention it so it's not a big topic of discussion."