When all eyes were on the third Test match between India and Australia in Melbourne, New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum was busy doing a demolition job across the Tasman Sea at Hagley Oval, Christchurch in another Boxing Day Test.
McCullum, who is having a year to remember, thoroughly entertained a sold-out crowd in Christchurch. The kiwi skipper smashed 134-ball 195 against Sri Lanka to flay the Islanders in the opening match of the two Test match series.
The swashbuckling right-hander bettered his own record and smashed the fastest century in the Tests. McCullum, who was his dazzling best, bulldozed to his 11th Test ton in just 74 balls, to better his own record by four deliveries.
McCullum could have shattered the record of fastest double-century but was dismissed just five runs short by Tharindu Kaushal. The fastest double-ton by a kiwi was hit by Nathan Astle in 222 balls and if McCullum could have batted a bit longer, he would have surely broken that record.
The Black Caps skipper inaugurated New Zealand’s latest Test venue in style by hitting 18 fours and a whopping 11 sixes. With just 80.3 overs bowled in the day, New Zealand finished the opening day on 429/7 thanks to McCullum’s blitz.
McCullum has already made 200+ score thrice – 224 (India), 302 (India) and 202 (Pakistan) – this year and has also became first kiwi to cross 1000 runs in a calendar year.
