McCullum names his toughest opponents to bat against

Kiwi star Brendon McCullum must have given nightmare to many bowlers around the world during his international playing days.

The former New Zealand captain, who recently retired from international cricket, named the four toughest bowlers he found difficult to face against during his 14-year dream career.

"Murali (Sri Lanka champion Muthiah Muralitharan) was always, for me, incredibly difficult to face, mainly because you had no idea which way it was spinning," McCullum told Star Sports.

"Brad Hogg, as well, because of his uncanny bowling action and his ability to turn it both ways.

"I think Brett Lee when he was in his pomp. He was fast, wasn't he?

"And probably Mitchell Starc too of more recent times."

Muralitharan played four Tests against McCullum, dismissing the Kiwi on four occasions – twice in the Wellington Test of 2006 and twice more in the Colombo Test three years later. Three of the four dismissals were bowled.

McCullum was Starc's maiden Test wicket on debut in Brisbane in 2011. But in four other Tests, the Australian removed him only once.

Lee played two Tests against McCullum for the one dismissal, while Hogg never bowled to the Black Caps blitzkrieg at Test level.

However, it's in one-day cricket where McCullum's fearsome foursome did the damage.

In 20 one-day internationals, Lee outed McCullum five times, the second-most by any bowler, with India's left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan leading the way with six dismissals.

McCullum fell four times to Muralidaran (16 matches) and Hogg (18 matches).

And Starc, he claimed McCullum's wicket only once – for a duck in the opening over of the 2015 World Cup final.

McCullum is now piling his trade for the Gujarat Lions in the 2016 Indian Premier League.