Inside Story: McCullum and his Coup Ray bat

Brendon McCullum’s Coup Ray bat fetches $12,000 for charity

Rebecca
Riverton jockey Rebecca Black was killed from injuries suffered in a race day fall at Gore in December. Image Source: stuff.co.nz

Internet Desk: We all know how devastating Brendon McCullum can be against the opponent bowlers on the ground. At the same time Baz is a completely different human being off the cricket field. The former Blackcaps skipper recently raised $12,000 for the family of jockey Rebecca Black who died after falling in a race at Gore in December.

The Gujarat Lions batsman, who is a horse racing aficionado, named his bat Coup Ray after an auction for late Rebecca who was killed from injuries suffered in a race day fall at Gore in December. Black rode over 100 winners during her career in New Zealand.

The bat was bought by Christchurch businessman Ray Coupland at a charity dinner on Thursday night. Mr Ray won 11 races and over $300,000 prize money in the early 2000s.  In total the auction raised $40,000 for the Rebecca Black Trust.

McCullum was seen batting with his new bat yesterday in the Indian Premier League match against his former team Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. He scored a quick-fire 33 with the ‘Coup Ray’ bat for Gujarat Lions in their four-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday.

Speaking post-match, McCullum said the money would go to helping Black’s three children.

“She’s got three kids, they set up a foundation to try and raise some money for her kids. I name my bats after horses and Ray Coupland bought this and he had a famous horse Coup Ray and raised $12,000 for their family,” McCullum said.

“It’s one thing about having a profile in this game, you can use it for a good cause and I think that’s a great cause.”