Christchurch: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum set a new world record by hitting the fastest Test century off just 54 deliveries against Australia in the second Test here in Christchurch.
The previous record of 100 off 56 balls was set by the great Viv Richards against England in 1986 and by Misbah-ul-Haq against Australia in 2014. At the time when New Zealand was in a critical situation of 32-3, McCullum came in to bat in his 101st and final test, and smashed his 12th test century that included 16 fours and four sixes. McCullum's century took 79 minutes, the fourth fastest on time behind Australian Jack Gregory who hit 100 in 70 minutes against South Africa in 1921.
McCullum had earlier surpassed the record for most Test sixes when he hit his 101st before lunch. McCullum moved to 11 with the shot over the long on boundary from the bowling of Marsh.
He had equalled former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist on 100 sixes in the second innings of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Dunedin in December.
