Brendon McCullum - New Zealand cricket's renaissance man

The cricketing fraternity has, more often than not, unified in festivity or bereavement. In another such instance, it came together late last year, albeit in mild surprise, when Brendon McCullum announced his retirement from international cricket. While it was widely whispered that he still had a couple of years if not more of cricket left in him, McCullum knew it was time after a career that spanned across 101 Tests, 260 One-Day Internationals and 71 Twenty20 Internationals.

New Zealand cricket perhaps found itself at its lowest point a few years ago when it was whitewashed and outplayed by Bangladesh. The incredible talents in their ranks were of no avail. In December 2012, McCullum was appointed New Zealand's captain across all three formats and that was the beginning of the reversal of fortunes.

Brendon McCullum - New Zealand cricket's renaissance man

In an incredible tale of leadership and introspection to the extent of soul-searching, McCullum opens up in an exclusive chat to crickttvshow about why he decided to retire when he did, cricketers' responsibility, lessons from the game and much more.

How was it growing up in a household with a cricketer sibling?

It was pretty cool. Our father played first-class cricket as well, so we were always in and around the cricketing scene. With only a year difference between Nathan [McCullum] and myself, we played a lot of backyard cricket and made a lot of friends around our neighbourhood. It was just in our blood; not just cricket, but other sports, too. We're really fortunate that we both ended up going on to represent New Zealand. You could say our parents left us some very good genes.

Was there any kind of sibling rivalry?

There was a little bit of rivalry when we were young, but we get along really well. We're really good mates as well. There was a little bit of rivalry, but you want to see your brother do really well all the time and playing with him especially, you probably are more nervous for him than you would be for yourself.

With regards to your game at what point during a bowler's run-up do you decide what shot to play?

Gee, that's a good question! It sort of depends; if you're playing well and you got the bowler under pressure, then you probably predetermine a little bit more. Whereas, if you're trying to get your innings underway, or maybe if you're not as comfortable on the crease, then you might try and react to what the bowler delivers first than try to premeditate.

How premeditated is a premeditated shot?

Most of my innings are premeditated, to be honest. I try and get myself in a good position and try and watch the ball as hard as I can. And instantly, your instincts take over. Sometimes, those instincts tell you to charge down the wicket, other times it tells you to sit quietly and wait for what comes. Sometimes, it could be an aggressive shot, sometimes it's a defensive shot. You have to trust your instincts most times. It's when you go against it most times that you find yourself in trouble.

Do you think it is unfair for cricketers to be thrust with the responsibility of being role models by default?

There definitely is an element of being a role model that comes with being an international cricketer, and especially representing your country. There are certain ways in which you must behave. It's not necessarily just because you're a cricketer that you have to behave, but it's because that's what good people do.

Brendon McCullum - New Zealand cricket's renaissance man

One thing we tried to do in the New Zealand cricket team was try and develop as people as well. You could come in at the age of 20 into international cricket and leave by hopefully 35-36, so you want to try and harness guys' ability to be able to develop as people. So when they leave the game, not only have they left an impression from a cricket point of view, but also have developed into good people that are capable of going on and having great lives in the rest of the decades to follow.

Those kind of responsibilities it can be difficult at times, because sometimes there is unfair criticism, probably more around the fact that the money the guys earn and some of the adulation that flows. That's not necessarily what guys get into the game for, but that's one of the things they get judged for. I think from a behavioural point of view, there are definite responsibilities as a cricketer.

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The last three years have seen a massive turnaround in New Zealand cricket. What was it about your leadership style that worked so well for the team?

My leadership style was very much about trying to rediscover the soul of the New Zealand cricket team; trying to bring back the essence of why we got into the game in the first place. I played for ten years where I was a part of the New Zealand cricket team but I didn't love the New Zealand cricket team. The last three years, we tried to bring back that real passion of just playing for your country. Just got out there, have a crack on the field, playing with a group of mates, you're travelling around the world, taking on oppositions and trying to have a good time. It's amazing once you've rediscovered the innocence of cricket and why you got into the game in the first place and how much fun it can be as a player as well.

Brendon McCullum - New Zealand cricket's renaissance man

Hopefully, that was a legacy I left from a captaincy point of view. I would want guys to go out and have a good time, not worry about something going wrong, think about what might go right and take on the opposition. If in doubt, take the aggressive option was kind of our natural way through and we had a great time. We achieved some cool things on the field, but importantly, we made some great friends for the rest of our lives.

Why did retirement come the way it did? It was believed you at least had a couple more years in you

There were certain events that unfolded over the last 12-18 months which challenged us a little bit, but I knew that my style of leadership would not last a long, long time. It was about trying to bring back the soul and essence of playing the game and trying to have a great time, but it had a shelf life as well. I wanted to leave the game still loving cricket; still loving turning up and representing your country in the real sense of pride that you get playing for your country. I think, sometimes, guys who play for too long might lose that, and I figured if I played for too long, then I might have lost that. I want to look back the rest of my life and say how great those times were that I represented New Zealand. Hence, I decided to finish when I did.

I wanted to leave loving the game. In the end, I decided to leave after the Test matches, which is the purest form of the game, which I loved the most throughout my career, against our No.1 opposition in my home town. I couldn't have asked for a better finish than that.

Was it planned or was it a spur of the moment decision?

Brendon McCullum - New Zealand cricket's renaissance man

I knew a few months beforehand that I only had enough energy in me to fight another couple of fights. I've always been a 100 per cent cricketer so for me, I'm either all in or all out. Once I realised that, it was a pretty easy decision. I could steer myself for that series against Australia, for the one-day series, for the home series against Australia as well, but in all honesty, I didn't have any more fight left in me for a Twenty20 World Cup. Hence, I made the decision when I did and in the end I walked away from the game not just really proud of what I've been able to achieve, but proud of the people I've met, proud of the person I was able to become through those 13-14 years as well and have no regrets.

I'm still a massive fan of New Zealand cricket and the guys who are now taking the team forward.

What of the team then?

I knew that the team was in a good spot, under Kane (Williamson) especially. His style of leadership will be really different but it will be probably more consistent in terms of professionalism. I made no apologies for maybe not being as professional as we could've been because I think we had to bring the fun back. But the team is now at a stage that it needs to go through that slightly more professional stage but keep the soul that we built up over the last few years and the essence of fun that we had. The team is in the right space.

What are your takeaways from cricket?

It has taught me a lot about the skill-side of things but that's not something I'm going to remember; it's not really important, I think. The ability to want something, to go for it, to be ambitious and work hard for it; to try as hard as you can, to sacrifice whatever you can. To reach those levels is one thing, but for me, it's not about the runs and the wickets and results necessarily. It's about the guys you meet and the friendships you make across the world, not just in your own country, but from around the world. Eoin Morgan is one of my best mates and he's from a completely different country and that's what cricket does. I walk away knowing it has made me a better person from the time I walked in at 20 to the time that I walked out at 34

Brendon McCullum - New Zealand cricket's renaissance man