Kiwi all-rounder Nathan McCullum calls time on international cricket career

New Delhi: New Zealand all-rounder Nathan McCullum will retire from international cricket at the end of the current season.

According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, the 35-year-old has revealed the his retirement plan, saying he wanted to invest more time in his new family. The right hand lower-order batsman and right arm off break bowler played 84 One-Day Internationals and 61 Twenty20 Internationals for the Black Caps.

"I don't want to make a big song and dance about it, but it's time to start thinking about the next phase of my life. I've got the sense that the end of this season is the right time to call it quits in international cricket," he was quoted as saying by the Herald.

McCullum recently moved to Glendowie from Dunedin, with his fiancee Vanessa Waldron and three children -- Luke, 5, Jake, 3, and Tom who is 18 months.

"It's been hard work for Vanessa in the past five years. She's spent a lot of it pregnant and has had to do it on her own most of the time. It's time for me to start investing time in my family and being there for dinners and helping the boys with their homework. I'm looking forward to it," he continued.

Unlike his more illustrious younger brother, Brendon, Nathan failed to failed to make the Test grade and was more famous for his stints with various T20 franchises around the world. He played for Lancashire, now defunct Pune Warriors, Sydney Sixers and Glamorgan besides his native side Otago.

"Every now and then it's hard case when your little brother is barking orders at you... but he deserves everything he gets in terms of praise. He's worked his butt of and created this team along with Hess and Mike Sandle," he acknowledged.

He has not yet made a decision around turning up for Otago beyond this season, or the Caribbean Premier league where he plays for the St Lucia Zouks.