McCullum brings one-day skills to Lord's test

By John Mehaffey

LONDON (Reuters) - Brendon McCullum transported the special skills of limited overs cricket to the spiritual home of the game on Thursday in a bitter-sweet day for the New Zealand wicketkeeper.

McCullum rescued New Zealand's first innings on the opening day of the first test against England at Lord's with a run-a-ball 97, taking the visitors from a precarious 104 for five to a comparatively respectable 208 for six.

A boundary short of his first test century against England he then missed a straight ball from Money Panesar and was bowled.

While Panesar and the England team celebrated without restraint, McCullum stood for a minute with his head bowed before walking slowly back to the pavilion.

Four years ago he fell four short of a century at Lord's batting at number three.

"If we had been bowled out for 150 there was only one team that could have won this game," McCullum told a news conference.

"England are on top but for us it's not a bad day either. It was pretty bitter-sweet, I'm proud but a touch disappointed.

"Last time I got very nervous through the nineties. I have spend the last four years thinking about it.