Brendon McCullum      

Brash, brutal and brilliant to watch, Brendon McCullum can bruise bowling attacks like few other men in international cricket. A wicketkeeper-batsman, McCullum has been used throughout the New Zealand batting order, but whenever he arrives at the crease it's impossible to look away. He muscles balls over both sides of the field and was responsible for getting the IPL off to an electrifying start, lighting up the tournament's first match with 158 and showing what the format had to offer.

He also became the second man, after Chris Gayle, to score a Twenty20 international century when he brazenly scooped 155kph offerings from Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes over the wicketkeeper's head in Christchurch in 2009-10. McCullum describes himself as "brash" and that innings was the proof, but he has also been a key part of New Zealand's Test team since 2004. In the longer format he began his career at No. 7 and in his second series, entertained the crowd with 96 at Lord's. He has notched five of his six Test centuries in that position but made his highest score of 225, against India in Hyderabad, after moving to opener in late 2010.

His first two Test centuries came against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe and there were questions over his performances against tougher opponents. Eventually, five years after his Test debut, he raised his bat against one of the top teams with 115 against India in Napier. It kicked off an excellent 12-month period during which McCullum scored three Test centuries and averaged 48.60. A reliable wicketkeeper, McCullum first made the ODI team as a batsman but while he still regularly keeps in limited-overs cricket he has not taken the gloves in Tests since 2010.

Although Adam Parore's Test mark of 201 dismissals remains within his reach, the chances of McCullum going back behind the stumps were further reduced when he took over as captain in all formats at the end of 2012. His succession was anything but smooth, however, with Ross Taylor opting out of New Zealand's subsequent tour of South Africa after being replaced in controversial circumstances. Despite two chastening Test defeats, a first-ever ODI series win in South Africa provided New Zealand, and McCullum, with a positive end to the tour.
Brydon Coverdale and ESPNcricinfo staff

• January 17, 2002
  Deceptive debut
  • Brendon McCcullum makes his ODI debut against Australia at the SCG and scores 5.
    
• December 29, 2002
  Five-for behind the stumps
  • McCullum takes four catches and effects a stumping against India in Napier, his five dismissals in an innings equal Adam Parore's New Zealand record. He's had five dismissals in an innings three times since.
    
• November 3, 2003
  A fifty at last
  • Scores maiden ODI half-century in his 29th game - 51 not out against Australia in Pune.
    
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• March 2004
  An instant success
  • Scores 57 on Test debut against South Africa in Hamilton.
    
• October 2004
  A maiden century
  • Scores first Test century in his seventh Test, 143 against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
    
• December 2005
  A world record falls
  • McCullum smashes 50 off 25 balls to help New Zealand pull off a world record chase against Australia in Christchurch.
    
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• February 2007
  This time a partnership record
  • Scores 86 off 91 balls to lead New Zealand to the second-highest run-chase in ODI history, against Australia in Hamilton. Shares a world-record partnership of 165 with Craig McMillan for the sixth wicket.
    
• March 2007
  Minnows suffer
  • Blasts 50 off 20 balls against Canada in St. Lucia, it's the fastest half-century in a World Cup.
    
• March 2007
  The best catcher
  • Takes four catches against West Indies in Antigua to overtake Adam Parore's New Zealand record of 136 dismissals in ODIs.
    
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• February 2008
  Leading for the first time
  • Leads New Zealand in a Twenty20 international against England in Auckland- McCullum's first captaincy assignment.
    
• February 2008
  IPL moolah beckons
  • Gets bought for $700,000 by Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural IPL auction.
    
• April 2008
  Worth the money
  • Blazes 158 off 73 balls for Kolkata against Bangalore in the opening game of the IPL. It's the highest score in Twenty20 cricket.
    
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• July 2008
  A long-awaited century
  • Scores maiden ODI century in his 134th match, smashing Ireland for 166 off 135 deliveries in Aberdeen. His 266-run stand with Hamish Marshall is a record for New Zealand.
    
• March 2009
  Leading from the front
  • Captains New Zealand for the first time in an ODI against India in Christchurch, scores 71 off 68 balls.
    
• November 2009
  A tougher hundred
  • Scores first ODI century against a top-class team, in his 162nd match. - 131 versus Pakistan in Abu Dhabi .
    
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• December 2009
  Another New Zealand record
  • Breaks the New Zealand record for most dismissals in a Test by participating in nine against Pakistan in Napier.
    
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