Brendon McCullum claims Halberg Award for leadership

Brendon McCullum led New Zealand to its first ever ICC Cricket World Cup final © Getty Images

Retiring New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has been bestowed with the prestigious Halberg Award for leadership. The Halberg Awards are meant to recognise top feats of New Zealand sportsmen each year and McCullum won the award for being one of the most, if not the most, successful New Zealand leaders in international cricket. McCullum's exploits include a berth in the final for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, which was a first for New Zealand after making the semi-final on multiple occasions in the past. McCullum also had a stunning record in the Test format. The award was presented to McCullum by Sport New Zealand chief executive Peter Miskimmin. RELATED: Brendon McCullum’s philosophy on cricket is a lost basic

Kane Williamson later claimed the award for New Zealand sportsman of the year. Halberg Awards recognises feats of Kiwi sportsmen from across sporting codes, which makes McCullum's achievement that much more significant, considering New Zealand actually won the IRC Rugby World Cup in the previous year.

However, while New Zealand have traditionally been the stronger side in the Rugby circuit, it was only under McCullum that they were first touted as one of the favourites to win a major cricketing event. McCullum's style of captaincy, in the tournament and beyond, was applauded not only be his countrymen but by people across the cricketing world. He was often praised for bringing a refreshingly aggressive approach to cricket and the award serves as testimony to what he has achieved.

LEADERSHIP AWARD | BRENDON MCCULLUM
We ask the @BLACKCAPS captain the big question... "Do you have to retire?" pic.twitter.com/hF76StCDnv

— SKY Sport NZ (@skysportnz) February 18, 2016

McCullum was jokingly asked if he had to retire and he said it as it is. He will seek to bow out on a winning note.