New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum to retire from international cricket in February 2016

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum will retire from international cricket in February after the two-Test series against Australia, says a report in The Times Of India. The 34-year-old batsman on Tuesday said that the second Test against Australia, which starts at Hagley Oval on February 20, would be his 101st and last.

"I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain, the Black Caps, but all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience of playing for my country," said McCullum, who has struggled with back problems for several years.

The explosive batsman, who has scored 6,273 runs in 99 Tests at an average of 38.48, took charge of New Zealand in all three formats of the game at the start of 2013 after Ross Taylor was controversially dropped as skipper by coach Mike Hesson. New Zealand's top batsman, 25-year-old Kane Williamson, will now lead the Black Caps at the tournament and is likely to take over as captain in all formats.

According to a report in Live Mint, in spite of his back injury, McCullum will play his 100th consecutive test match in the series opener against Australia in Wellington in early February.

“His inspirational leadership was widely credited with the team’s successful World Cup campaign, where New Zealand stormed to the final on the back of an attacking brand of cricket that won them fans around the world. It reflected McCullum’s own aggressive approach at the crease, which earned him five ODI and 11 test centuries, including the only triple century by a New Zealand batsman. He also claimed the second-highest score in Twenty20 cricket, an unbeaten 158 in the IPL,” says the report.