McCullum's 100th Test
McCullum's Test career, in photos
Wellington, March 2004: A 22-year-old Brendon McCullum made his Test debut in 2004 against a potent South Africa attack, and did not take long to display his trademark attacking intent•Getty Images
Wellington, March 2005: Within a year of debuting in Test cricket, blonde-haired McCullum was making giant strides with substantial lower-order contributions•Getty Images
Wellington, March 2008: McCullum was appointed designated keeper for six years of his Test career, before being forced to give it up in 2010 due to back issues. He effected 178 dismissals in 52 Tests •Getty Images
Napier, December 2009: McCullum broke the New Zealand record for most keeping dismissals in a match with nine against Pakistan in 2009. He followed up with an impactful 89 to help New Zealand into ascendancy•Getty Images
McCullum might have given up the wicketkeeping gloves, but that didn't mean he couldn't snatch a close-in catch from other positions•AFP
Port Elizabeth, January 2013: McCullum's reputation with the fans took a hit with that switch, and it continued to plummet in his first Test series as captain. He chose to bat against South Africa, only for his team to be knocked over for 45, their third-lowest total in Tests. They went on to lose both Tests of the series by an innings•Gallo Images
Wellington, February 2014: McCullum the batsman roared back into form in a series against India in 2014. Twice in ten days he made 200-plus scores, the second of which was a colossal 775-minute 302 - the highest score by a New Zealand batsman - to help save the game•Getty Images
In December 2015, McCullum announced his retirement from international cricket at the end of the home summer. He will end his career as a New Zealand cricketer at his home venue, Christchurch, in two Tests' time•AFP
Dhaka, October 2004: McCullum was shepherded through his early career by his soon-to-be captain Daniel Vettori, forging partnerships on and off the field. Here, McCullum is congratulated on his maiden Test ton against Bangladesh in his seventh Test•Getty Images
Auckland, March 2005: He was not just a terrific athlete on the cricket field, occasionally dabbling in other sports as well. Rugby was a particularly strong suit of his - he was once good enough at it to keep future New Zealand rugby player Dan Carter out of a South Islands schools team•Getty Images
London, May 2008: On New Zealand's tour of England in 2008, McCullum was promoted to No. 5. He responded with a run-a-ball 97 in swinging conditions under cloudy skies. Some of his most influential innings would come from that batting position•Getty Images
Wellington, March 2010: McCullum started 2010 with a statement. He slammed 185 against Bangladesh in Hamilton and accompanied it with 104 when following on against an unstoppable Australian outfit in the next game. A 2-0 series loss could not be avoided but he was hungry for more•Getty Images
London, May 2013: Following his double, McCullum failed to find a century for three years. He managed just three 70-plus scores. It was a time for introspection...•PA Photos
Auckland, March 2013: But McCullum took it on the chin, and began to mould the team in his image: attack above all else. Despite getting his first win only in his 11th Test as captain, McCullum transformed the way New Zealand approached the game•Getty Images
Sharjah, November 2014: Shaken by the death of Phillip Hughes, McCullum paid tribute by smashing the quickest ton by a New Zealand batsman (off 78 balls) on his way to a 188-ball 202. He outdid himself against Sri Lanka a month later, scoring 100 off just 74 balls this time•AFP
Before that, though, there is the matter of his 100th Test in Wellington. One hundred consecutive Tests, at that. The first cricketer to do so•Getty Images
It was not all smooth-sailing in Test cricket, though. He produced 333 runs in 10 Tests in 2006 and 2007, at an average of 22.20, and found his technique being called into question. In hindsight, he must have answered well•Getty Images
Sydney, November 2008: McCullum the family man - with his son Riley. He married wife Ellissa in 2003 and has two children - Riley and a daughter, Maya•Getty Images
Hyderabad, November 2010: Opening the batting for just the fifth time in his career, McCullum struck his first double-century, a 308-ball 225 - the second-highest score by a New Zealand batsman in India•AFP
Hamilton, March 2012: It was during that lean period that McCullum took over as New Zealand's captain in all three formats from Ross Taylor. The change was not without controversy though, with Taylor the clear fan favourite •Getty Images
Dunedin, December 2013: He would draw crowds in numbers that were rarely seen at cricket matches before in New Zealand•Getty Images
Wellington, September 2015: McCullum, in partnership with coach Mike Hesson, led New Zealand to away Test wins, a World Cup final, and helped boost interest in the game across New Zealand to new highs. It was only fair that he and Hesson were presented with New Zealand Order of Merit honours•Getty Images