New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum bats during a Test match against Sri Lanka.
Wellington - The New Zealand captain's 101st and last Test will be the second Test against Australia which starts in his home town, Christchurch, on February 20.
Published: Tue 22 Dec 2015, 11:00 PM
Last updated: Sat 18 Jun 2016, 8:58 AM
Blockbusting New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum announced on Tuesday he will bow out of international cricket after the Test series against Australia in February, saying "all good things must come to an end".
The New Zealand captain's 101st and last Test will be the second Test against Australia which starts in his home town, Christchurch, on February 20.
"I've loved my opportunity to play for and captain the Black Caps," the 34-year-old said.
McCullum said there was "something romantic" about finishing in front of his home crowd and he made the announcement now because his name would be missing when the New Zealand team is named soon for the World Twenty20 in India from March 8 to April 3.
"Ideally, I would have preferred to wait until after the Test in Christchurch to make this news public," he said.
"However, the schedule for naming the ICC World T20 squads means I couldn't have managed this without causing a lot of confusion and speculation, something I was keen to avoid."
The big-hitter, with a Test best 302 and co-holder of the world record of 100 Test sixes with Australian Adam Gilchrist, said now was not the time for him to dwell on his achievements.
"There's a time and place for reflection and that's at the end of your career," he said.
"For now, I'll be giving all my attention to helping the team focus on what's coming up over the next few weeks - and making sure we're in the best possible shape for what's going to be a very challenging summer."
He added that giving testimony in the Chris Cairns match-fixing perjury trial in London last month had no impact on his decision to quit internationals.
Former teammate Cairns, who was cleared, has demanded McCullum explain why he chose to appear as a prosecution witness.
Kane Williamson, whose unbeaten century steered New Zealand to victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test in Hamilton on Monday, was immediately confirmed by New Zealand officials as captain for the World Twenty20.
McCullum has forged the best record of any New Zealand captain since taking over the leadership from Ross Taylor in December 2012.
Under his stewardship the Black Caps have won 11 and drawn 11 of 31 Tests.
His record as an one-day captain is a New Zealand best at 59.43 percent, which included leading his side the World Cup final this year.
McCullum made his international debut against Australia in 2002 and played his first Test against South Africa two years later.
In his 99 Tests, he has scored 11 centuries and is one of only 24 players and the only New Zealander to make a triple century.
His 6,172 Test run total is second best for a New Zealander behind Stephen Fleming. In addition to sharing the record for the most Test sixes he holds the record for the most Twenty20 sixes with 91.
Did you know
> Brendon Barrie McCullum was born on Sept. 27, 1981 in Dunedin, Otago and hails from a cricketing family. His father, Stuart, played first-class cricket for Otago while his brother, Nathan, has represented New Zealand.
> He made his New Zealand debut as a 20-year-old batsman in an one-day international against Australia at Sydney.
> His Test debut came two years later against South Africa in Hamilton and the 34-year-old has gone on to play 98 more Tests for New Zealand on the trot.
> McCullum has scored 6,273 Test runs with 11 hundreds, including the only triple century by a New Zealand batsman, and 31 half-centuries at an average of 38.48. His highest test score of 302 came against India last year.
> He has also taken 194 catches, mostly wearing the gloves, and 11 stumpings.
> A hard-hitting batsman who is almost unstoppable when on song, McCullum has scored 5,909 runs in 254 one-day internationals with five tons and 31 fifties. He has a highest score of 166 in the 50-over format with 258 catches and 15 stumpings.
> The right-handed batsman is probably the most destructive in the shortest format and is the only player with two international hundreds in Twenty20 cricket. He also has the second-highest score in Twenty20 cricket across the world, an unbeaten 158 in the Indian Premier League.
> He has a strike-rate of over 136 in the 20-over game and has also scored 13 half-centuries.
> McCullum was named captain of New Zealand in all formats at the start of 2013, taking over from Ross Taylor.
> McCullum's inspirational leadership was reflective of his own aggressive approach at the crease and he was widely credited with New Zealand's successful World Cup campaign, where they stormed to the final on the back of an attacking brand of cricket that won them fans around the world.
> New Zealand have also remained unbeaten in 13 Tests at home under McCullum.
> He will retire after the two home tests against Australia.
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