The 34-year-old McCullum will become the first cricketer to play 100 consecutive Test matches when he takes the field in New Zealand’s first Test against Australia in Wellington from Feb. 12.

McCullum is expected to make the second Test of that series — starting in Christchurch on Feb. 20 — his last match for New Zealand.

It is likely that McCullum will also play a limited role in New Zealand’s forthcoming one-day series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and will miss next year’s Twenty20 World Cup.

McCullum’s gradual move to retirement will allow New Zealand to bring on batsman Kane Williamson as his successor as captain.

McCullum made his Test debut against South Africa in 2004 and hasn’t been absent from the New Zealand test side since.