There’s no argument, Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum is one of the most explosive batsmen in the history of the sport.
Yesterday, he smacked his 200th six in his last ODI, leading New Zealand to a 55-run win to retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against Australia at a full house in Hamilton.
Over the next two weeks, McCullum will captain the Black Caps in two Tests against Australia at Wellington and Christchurch. He currently shares the Test six-hitting record with Adam Gilchrist at a neat 100.
It’s a pretty safe bet McCullum will stand alone on top of the Test six-hitters by the end of the series as he heads into retirement.
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That leaves the Twenty20 internationals where he’s on top of the six-hitting table with 91. McCullum has already played his last Twenty20, with Kane Williamson taking over the captaincy.
Yet the New Zealand selectors can put forward a very compelling case for McCullum to suspend his retirement until after the World Twenty20 Cup in India next month so he can become the only international batsman to clear the fence at least 100 times in all three formats.
That would be one mighty record to pip Chris Gayle for the honour.
Williamson would welcome the change of heart and so would his peers and his country.
Here are the big-bopper tables.
Tests
Adam Gilchrist – 100 sixes from 137 innings
Brendon McCullum – 100 (172)
Chris Gayle – 98 (182)
Jacques Kallis – 97 (280)
Virender Sehwag – 91 (180)
Brian Lara – 88 (232)
Chris Cairns – 87 (104)
Viv Richards – 84 (182)
Andrew Flinthoff – 82 (130)
Matt Hayden – 82 (184)
ODIs
Shahid Afridi – 351 from 369 innings
Sanath Jayasuriya – 270 (433)
Chris Gayle – 238 (264)
Brendon McCullum – 200 (228)
Sachin Tendulkar – 195 (452)
MS Dhoni – 192 (241)
Sourav Gangully – 190 (300)
AB de Villiers – 182 (189)
Ricky Ponting – 162 (365)
Chris Cairns – 153 (193)
Twenty20s
Brendon McCullum – 91 from 70 innings
Chris Gayle – 87 (93)
Shane Watson – 76 (50)
Martin Guptill – 68 (55)
David Warner – 67 (54)
Shahid Afridi – 66 (84)
Yuvraj Singh – 64 (38)
Eoin Morgan – 53 (83)
JP Duminy – 51 958)
Umar Akmal – 48 (68)
Combined three formats
Shahid Afridi 469 from 561 innings
Chris Gayle – 423 (489)
Brendon McCullum – 391 (470)
Sanath Jayasuriya – 352 (651)
MS Dhoni – 296 (434)
AB de Villiers – 271 (425)
Sachin Tendulkar – 264 (782)
Adam Gilchrist – 262 (429)
Jacques Kallis – 254 (617)
Sourav Ganguly – 247 (488)
Prosenjit
Guest
Too early for sure,he's still brilliant.NZ will miss his fearless striking.
Forest Gimp
Guest
In terms of his capacity to dominate world cricket for irritating, self- indulgent hypocrisy bmc is in the form of his life. Maybe he's got an offer too good to refuse, and will join Warne on the reality TV circuit, or a cutting edge new sitcom
rajendra prasad
Roar Rookie
He will be sorely missed by NZ
Don Freo
Guest
No idea where you've come from SF...or what you're about but I suggest you make a few useful contributions before you start establishing the kind of persona that you have. There is neither opinion nor humour in your comments. Just rubbish. Wrong site.
Smocks Folder
Guest
Yep, first time Don's even been close.
Smocks Folder
Guest
But funny David.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Actually, he's pretty spot on.
Kiwi
Guest
What a stupid comment
Pita
Guest
Hey Lordy, was NZ the better sports team yesterday or nah?
Don Freo
Guest
Yes.
Paul D
Roar Guru
If McCullum thinks it’s time to go, then it’s time to go. The alternative is to carry on to the point where he’s just a sad imitation of his former self. Much like a certain journalist who hasn’t yet realised he should have called time on his career years ago, while he still had reputation and credibility.
David Lord
Expert
Riccardo, let's face it, BMAC will be a long time retired and while he'd not a record chaser, I reckon he'll regret not becoming the first to smack at least 100 sixes in all three formats. Give it another six weeks, pass the 100 sixes T20 mark at the World Cup in India and let the cricket world salute an incredible feat by an entertainment machine who has been a career-long credit to Kiwi cricket.
David Lord
Expert
In his dreams SF.
Bakkies
Guest
Probably to do with his back more than anything
Riccardo
Guest
I would not deign to suggest to BMAC when he hang up his boots but strangely this is 1 time where I agree with you David. New Zealand is on the upsurge in all 3 formats right now and the T20 World Cup would have been a fitting send off IMO. Almost a specialist area for BMAC, after the heroics of the ODI World Cup recently a similar recipe may have struck dividends for the Black Caps. But it is what it is and I'm particularly grateful for Brendon's hand in the change that has galvanised this team into a unit that can beat anybody and will fight to do so. Kudos sir...
Dizzy Tangles
Guest
With Shane Watson getting an IPL contract for a cool $2 million he probably feels the best way to provide for his family is to go where the big money is ..
Don Freo
Guest
He seems to only be able to bat 5 overs then throws it away. Seems like he's had enough.
Smocks Folder
Guest
"Some say" Glenn Maxwell will comfortably eclipse the lot by the time his career is up... ???
Jokerman
Guest
Well said, Lordy. He's the most entertaining player, and everyone wants to see him play. One last bash at the 20?
pilferer
Guest
Think his body is telling him different, hopefully we will see some big 20 20 innings next summer for the heat.