Five Interesting Things About Birthday Boy Brendon McCullum

41 years ago, another baby boy was born to cricketer Stuart McCullum. Little did the father know that his boy will lead New Zealand to their first World Cup or coach England in the T20 World Cup with his own technique, “Bazball”. Forever embroiled in records and news, Brendon Barrie McCullum was born in Dunedin, Otago on September 27, 1981. The Kiwi is the holder of multiple distinctions, notably the fastest test century. The younger McCullum holds the distinction of the fastest ton in Tests from just 54 balls, overpassing Viv Richards 56 balls record. Swipe Down to read some more of the Kiwi wicketkeeper batter’s most interesting things.

Brendon McCullum is credited with New Zealand’s Only Triple Century in Tests

B McCullum scored New Zealand’s first and only triple century in a test against India in 2014. McCullum came to crease when the Kiwis were struggling at 52 for 3. He stood for a mammoth 775 minutes, the eighth-largest innings (currently 9th) at the time until he was caught behind by Zaheer Khan. McCullum scored 301 runs from 559 balls totaling 32 fours and 4 sixes.

The previous highest run-getter was Martin Crowe. Crowe scored 299 against Sri Lanka at the same ground 13 years ago. McCullum on the occasion of his triple ton also noted humbleness about moving past Crowe. In addition to the triple ton, Baz has three double centuries also.

Bb McCullum holds the record for the most number of sixes in Test Cricket

Brendon McCullum debuted in Test at the age of 23 against Proteas at Hamilton. Till his retirement, the brash batter has played 101 test matches in total. He has started 176 innings in his 12-year career totaling 6453 runs at a strike rate of 64.60

In his wide career, Baz also accumulated 107 sixes. He currently holds the record for most sixes in Test Cricket. However, the record will soon be overtaken by English all-rounder Ben Stokes who has 103 sixes to his name. Chris Cairns is the only other New Zealander in the Top 10. Cairns has whipped the ball over the rope 87 times in 104 innings career. Surprisingly, Tim Southee is sixteenth on the list with 76 sixes.

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Brendon is one of the 17 male cricketers who have captained the team and opened the batting in T20I

Yes, there is an elite list of cricketers who have captained and opened the batting for their teams in T20Is. In fact, Brendon McCullum was the second to do the same too.

Adam Gilchrist is the first to open the batting and captain the team at the same time in T20Is. He did the feat in two matches in the year 2007. Quinton de Kock has the record for the most number of matches in this category, 11. Nine people have led the Kiwis in the history of T20Is. Stephen Flemming captained the Kiwis in the first T20I international ever. McCullum has captained them on 28 occasions, winning 13 while losing 14.

Brendon is the first-ever captain to score a century in his Farewell Test

McCullum announced that he will join his brother Nathan in retirement on 22nd December 2015. Brendon played his final test on 22nd February 2016 against Australia at Christchurch. McCullum scored 145 runs in the first innings, and 25 in the second.

Brendon McCullum became the first-ever captain to score a century in his final test. Karl Nunes scored 158 runs from two innings, 66&92 in 1929-30. He is currently the second player in the list of most runs in the last Test as a captain. The Kiwi remained the first for five years until Brendon Taylor unseated him. B Taylor of Zimbabwe scored 173 runs in his final test against Bangaladesh to go atop this list. If a single innings is considered, Asghar Afghan scored 164 runs in the first innings in his last test for Afghanistan. In addition to Baz, Afghan, Craig Ervine is the only person to score a century in a single innings as a captain in his farewell test.