Brendon McCullum skips 'the only record he cares for,' keeps team's interests first

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum equalled the record for the most number of sixes in Test match cricket, during the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka, a game that New Zealand won by 122 runs.

McCullum, however, didn’t wait for that one more shot over the ropes, that would have made him the batsman with the most number of sixes in Test matches, and declared the innings immediately after his team crossed the lead of 400 runs, which came with his 100th Six.

He is now tied with the Australian legend, Adam Gilchrist, as the batsman with the most number of sixes in Test cricket. After the game, the Blackcaps skipper said that he was well aware of the record that Gilchrist had set during his 96-Test career, that ended in 2008.

"It's the only record I actually care about, it's the only record that Kane (Williamson) or Ross (Taylor) aren't going to break as well so I should be able to hold on to that one.”

"I've been aware of it for a while as you can probably tell by the way I bat all through my career," said McCullum.

Would have looked selfish had I stayed for one more six: McCullum

He showed that for him, the team’s interests came first, as he didn’t wait for the 101st six, and declared immediately after, as he had told the boys that they would be setting a target of 400 runs for the visitors.

"No, I said 400 to the boys so it would have looked pretty selfish if I'd stayed out there for one more crack at it."

The 98-Test veteran would have ample opportunities to own the record, as New Zealand play one more Test against Sri Lanka this month, and then two against Australia at home in February.

The Australian southpaw also congratulated McCullum on achieving this remarkable feat.

Nice work by @BLACKCAPS skipper Brendan McCullum. Plenty more 6's to come. Love the way you play.

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) December 14, 2015

Here is the list of the top-ten batsmen with the most number of sixes in Test cricket.

1. Adam Gilchrist 100
2. Brendon McCullum 100* (still active)
3. Chris Gayle 98
4. Jacques Kallis 97
5. Virender Sehwag 91
6. Brian Lara 88
7. Chris Cairns 87
8. Viv Richards 84
9. Andrew Flintoff 82
10. Matthew Hayden 82

Since none of the currently active cricketers except McCullum feature in that list, this record, most likely to be set by the Kiwi skipper, would probably stand for a long time.