Credit: ICC
On February 20, 2016, former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Brendon McCullum played his last international Test match against Australia in Christchurch, and hit the fastest ton of red-ball cricket. On day one of the match, the right-handed batter completed his century in just 54 deliveries, and shattered West Indies legend Vivian Richards’ record of 56-ball hundred that came against England in a Test match at St John’s in April 1986. The match saw the heroics of Joe Burns, who produced the knocks of 170 and 65 to help the visitors get the better of the home side. Despite Mccullum’s scintillating innings of 145 off 79 in the first innings, the Kiwi team lost the game by seven wickets. The star player retired from all forms of international cricket after the match.
McCullum broke into international cricket in January 2002 against Australia in an ODI game in Sydney. He waited for more than two years to receive his Test cap for New Zealand. In March 2004, New Zealand locked horns with South Africa in a five-day game at Hamilton and McCullum, who was donning New Zealand whites for the first time, scored a half-century. In his 14-year illustrious career, McCullum played 432 international games across all formats. He is one of the few players from his country to play 100 international Tests. He is the fourth-leading run-getter for the Kiwi side, notching up 6453 runs in 176 innings of his 101 outings. He also scored 11 tons and 31 fifties from his bat in cricket’s oldest format.
McCullum retired from all forms of sport in August 2019
In August 2019, McCullum retired from all forms of sport. His last appearance was for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League 2018-19. After bidding adieu to competitive cricket, the Kiwi legend was seen as a commentator. Nowadays, he is associated with the England cricket team as their head coach.
Back in May 2022, McCullum stitched an alliance with the English Test team to render services as their head coach. The New Zealand great also served three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their head coach from 2020-22.
