I’m embarrassed to go past Vivian Richards: Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum celebrated his 101st and farewell Test with an explosive innings of 145 runs from just 79 balls. On his way, he also broke the record for the fastest Test century which was previously held by his idol, Vivian Richards.

In a majestic display of batting against visitors Australia on the first day of the second Test, the 34-year-old Black Caps captain reach his 12th century in just 54 balls, bettering the previous record by two balls. The previous mark was set by West Indies great Sir Viv Richards against England in 1986 and was equaled by Pakistan’s Misbah-ul-Haq in 2014.

The 34-year-old, who retires from international cricket at the end of this Test went to the middle with New Zealand in trouble at 32-3. On a seaming wicket, McCullum said that the best form of defense I to attack.

“I was trying to hit every ball for four or six.”

“He was my idol growing up. I’m almost embarrassed to go past him to be honest but hopefully he enjoyed a little bit of the stroke making.”

He also realised early that luck was on his side.

“Probably second ball when I had an almighty, filthy slog and sort of managed to go over the slips cordon for four,” he laughed.

“When you’re confronted with wickets like that and you know you’re going to have to be pretty aggressive you need some luck along the way.”

Together with the equally belligerent Corey Anderson (72) they put on 179 runs in 110 deliveries and helped New Zealand reach 370 all out.

“It was great fun and it was also instrumental in us being able to, hopefully, set the Test match up for us,” McCullum said.

McCullum achieved another record. His innings was studded with 21 fours and four sixes and with the first six he set a new world record for total Test sixes, overtaking Australian Adam Gilchrist, who hit 100.

There was one element of luck in McCullum’s audacious batting show when he also survived a chance at the score of 39. He sliced James Pattinson directly to Mitchell Marsh who took a spectacular catch. But umpire Richard Kettleborough requested a replay which showed Pattinson had bowled a no-ball. McCullum said that let-off inspired him to attack the bowling even harder.

“It was fortunate for the reprieve so it loosened me up a bit, just relaxes you a little bit more because you’re probably not meant to be out there so you play with a little bit more freedom,” he said.

He finally fell for 145 off 79 balls when he was caught by Nathan Lyon off Pattinson. The wicket taker himself praised his counterpart

“It was pretty amazing striking. He’s been a credit to the game of cricket the way he’s conducted himself for New Zealand for a long period of time and to see him come out there and do that was pretty amazing. He rode his luck and that’s the way he’s played cricket and I’m sure that’s the way he will want to go down at the end of his career as a person who took the game on.” said Lyon.

Did you miss the superb knock? – Watch: Brendon McCullum’s record breaking 54-ball hundred