McCullum: No time for reflection

Retiring New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum insists there is no time for reflection as the Black Caps look ahead to matches against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia.

McCullum announced on Tuesday that he will retire from all international cricket after New Zealand's Test series against Trans-Tasman rivals Australia in February next year.

The 34-year-old, who made his Test debut in 2004 - making 99 consecutive five-day appearances, will bow out ahead of the World Twenty20 in India, with Kane Williamson to lead the Kiwis on the sub-continent.

McCullum was hoping to make the announcement after the third and final Test against Sri Lanka as the Black Caps look to sweep the series 3-0 heading into the Boxing Day match, but the upcoming deadline for naming World T20 squads forced his hand.

"The schedule for naming the ICC World T20 squads means I could not have managed this without causing a lot of confusion and speculation " something I was keen to avoid," he said.

"I've loved my opportunity to play for, and captain the BLACKCAPS, but all good things have to come to an end, and I'm just grateful for the wonderful experience of playing for my country."

From his 99 Test caps to date, McCullum has scored 6,273 runs at an average of 38.48, but he will bow out of the game with several notable records to his name.

His 302 at Basin Reserve against India in February 2014 was the first triple century scored by a New Zealander in Test cricket, leading the Black Caps to a record total of 680-6 declared - a Test record for any third innings.

McCullum has posted 5,909 runs at 30.30 in 254 one-day international appearances, while he was the first batsman to reach 1,000 runs in T20 internationals, and has gone to rack up 2,140 runs in 71 games in the shortest format.

McCullum added: "There's a time and place for reflection, and that's at the end of your career. "For now, I'll be giving all my attention to helping the team focus on what's coming up over the next few weeks " and making sure we're in the best possible shape for what"s going to be a very challenging summer."