Fastest Test century, most number of sixes in the longest format of the game, first New Zealander to score a triple hundred in Test cricket, fastest World Cup half-century, most T20 runs and most T20 centuries - Brendon McCullum has done it all in his career.
The New Zealand walked out to the middle at the Hagley Oval on Monday for the last time on Monday. The reception was quite unbelievable. The Australians too welcomed the master to the crease.
In his final innings in international cricket, McCullum did not hold back, playing those patented strokes -- the swashbuckling upper cuts, the little shimmy down the wicket and whack over midwicket and more.
The crowd cheered every ball, and it looked for a while like McCullum might replicate his fastest every Test match hundred from the first innings.
However, after James Pattinson appealed unsuccessfully twice against the New Zealand captain, as boos rang out against the Australia fast bowler, the skipper finally fell in the over after Pattinson's.
Josh Hazlewood was the man who dismissed McCullum, who scored 27 runs in his last international innings. Hazlewood would not have picked up the wicket if not for David Warner, who completed a blinder of a catch at short midwicket.
Warner then led the congratulations, going and patting McCullum on his back as 'Baz' walked back to the pavilion, raising his bat for the last time with the emotions on his face quite evident.
Amidst all the emotions, the stark reality is that New Zealand are struggling against Australia in the second Test.
James Pattinson (12-5-29-3) has given Australia firm control in the match with his bowling efforts. New Zealand, on 121/4 at the close of play, still trail Australia, who finished their first innings on 505, by 14 runs. Corey Anderson and Kane Williamson are still at the crease, and the two will need to put on a massive partnership on Day 4 morning to make a game of it.
