New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has insisted that he had put his team ahead of his own ambitions of claiming the world record of highest Test sixes during their emphatic 122-run win over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Dunedin on Monday.
New Zealand set a 405-run target for the tourists after McCullum declared his side’s second innings at 267-3. The 34-year-old, who was playing his last Test in his hometown, chose to declare their innings instead of attempting to extend the record for maximum Test sixes after equalizing 100 sixes with Australia’s Adam Gilchrist.
Speaking on his decision, McCullum admitted that it meant a lot to him to be recognized as a big hitter but added that it would have looked selfish if he had decided to stay on the field just to break the record, Sport24 reported.
McCullum, who smashed quick-fire 75 and an unbeaten 17 in the first Test, however, said that it was the only record he actually wants to break, insisting that his compatriots wouldn’t be able to surpass the milestone in the near future.
With the win, New Zealand have taken an unassailable lead of 1-0 in a two-match series against Sri Lanka.
McCullum, who reached the milestone of 100 sixes in 98 Tests and 170 innings, will aim to break the record of Gilchrist in the next Test against Sri Lanka in Hamilton, starting from December 18.
