Test cricket was never meant to be played like this. It’s supposed to be a game of patience, of careful strokes and methodical run-building. But Brendon McCullum? He never cared for the script.
It was 2016, Christchurch, New Zealand vs. Australia. More than just another match, it was McCullum’s final Test—his grand farewell. For most cricketers, a last game is about soaking in emotions, taking one last look at the field, and bowing out gracefully. But McCullum was built differently. If he was going out, he was going out in flames.
The stage was set against one of the most ruthless bowling attacks in the world. Australia had the pace, the precision, and the hunger to ruin his moment. But McCullum wasn’t just playing for nostalgia—he was playing for immortality.
From the very first ball, he attacked. Cover drives turned into slashes, flicks became fiery hooks, and defensive shots? They were nowhere to be found. In just 54 balls, the century was up—the fastest in Test history. A record that had stood for decades, first with Viv Richards (56 balls) and later matched by Misbah-ul-Haq, was now shattered.
The crowd erupted. His teammates couldn’t believe it. Even the Australians, known for their fierce competitiveness, couldn’t help but applaud. McCullum had turned a farewell into a festival.
He didn’t just break a record that day; he changed the way people saw Test cricket. The world had believed patience was a virtue, but McCullum proved that sometimes, the most beautiful moments come when you throw patience out the window.
As he walked off the field, the scoreboard showed 145 off 79 balls. The man who never played it safe had just given Test cricket its most electrifying moment
