National Boss Day Poster

Ross Taylor tipped to be new Black Caps skipper

A media conference has been called in Auckland this afternoon where it is believed Taylor will be announced as the new national captain.

Central Districts batsman Taylor, 27, is thought to have been favoured over the other candidate - wicketkeeper-batsman McCullum, 29.

National coach John Wright, new NZC high performance boss John Buchanan and national selection manager Mark Greatbatch interviewed players this month as part of a season-ending review. The players' views on the leadership were sought as part of that process.

"One of the areas they needed to comment on was leadership," Buchanan told the Sunday Star-Times, "the culture of leadership and what their views and thoughts are of it within and around the Black Caps.

"We asked their views and thoughts on the captains they have played under - either Ross and/or Brendon. We wanted them to express their views on that."

Taylor, the current vice captain, has played 30 tests, 107 one-day internationals and 37 Twenty20 internationals since making his New Zealand debut in 2006.

McCullum's career began in 2002. He has notched 57 tests, 192 one-day internationals and  40 Twenty20 internationals.

I'm not KIWICAM but this is my side to play the Aussies at the Gabba.

B McCullum, Guptill, Williamson, Taylor (c), Ryder, De Boorder (wk), Vettori, Astle, Southee, McKay, Martin/Mills

I like the idea of having an experienced seamer so if Martin is still in good form he could be a useful option. However, his record against Australia is poor and Mills is obviously very useful ala James Anderson if it swings (and this is at the Gabba). If Mills is upto playing test cricket and showing some ability I'd probably go for him (and get him to back at No 9). Mills, Southee, McKay is a pretty decent 9, 10, jack and gives us players to bat with Vettori. I'd also like to see Vettori at 7 as a cool head to guide De Boorder and Astle.

one horse race really...Mc Cullum hasnt even nailed a place as an opener at test level....if he continues to say no with the gloves ,and he fails at the top order(which he will against Aussie,SA), then he has no place in the team. We dont need a team like the unbalanced one day side we have had over the last couple of years when he hasnt kept....plus he failed as a IPL capt,lost the plot on the field during one game...

OurTimes: Happy National Aboriginal Day!

Today is the summer equinox, the longest day of the year, and officially recognized in Canada as National Aboriginal Day. For those of you who are Aboriginal (or native, Indian, Indigenous - OK, that's another blogpost), I'm sure every day is Aboriginal day, but it's still a nice gesture that the Governor General proclaimed this day, back in 1996 as an officially recognized day to celebrate our cultures. So for those of you who have the day off to do just that, enjoy yourselves. For those who have to be at work, then at least spend a few minutes saying hello to all your Aboriginal friends, watch an Aboriginal film (Dances With Wolves doesn't count), attend a National Aboriginal Day event in your neighbourhood or find some other way to celebrate that won't get you or your boss in trouble. (Got an event to promote? Let us know!) June 24, 2011: AFN, Aboriginal Healing Foundation and Dreamcatcher Foundation 2011 Fundraiser Golf Tournament, Canadian Golf and Country Club, Ottawa, ON. June 27-29, 2011: AFN International Indigenous Summit on Energy and Mining (IISEM), Sheraton on the Falls Hotel, 5875 Falls Avenue Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada. July 13-17, 2011: On the Land Congress 2011, Iqaluit July 22, 2011: Tungasuvvingat Inuit Golf Tournament August 26, 2011: Habitat for Humanity Iqaluit 6th Annual Golf Classic, Château Cartier Relais Resort, Gatineau, QC Fall 2011: Nunavut Trade Show and Conference November 2011: ITK At 40: Canada's National Inuit organization celebrates four decades of activism January 2012: Axel Heiberg Island celebrates 250 millionth birthday. No gifts, please.

Field & Stream

This Day in Ohio History

The National druggist

Transactions - National Safety Congress

The American child