'It's the only record I actually care about'

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum says he never really thought about sticking around to try and top Adam Gilchrist's record for the most Test match sixes.

During the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Dunedin, McCullum bookended his six-ball innings of 17 with two sixes, which took him level with Gilchrist's tally of 100.

He immediately declared to set Sri Lanka a victory target of 405.

After the match, which New Zealand won by 122 runs, the 34-year-old 98-Test veteran said he was well aware he was level with the Australian keeper, who retired from Tests in 2008 after 96 Tests.

"It's the only record I actually care about, it's the only record that Kane (Williamson) or Ross (Taylor) aren't going to break as well so I should be able to hold on to that one.

"I've been aware of it for a while as you can probably tell by the way I bat all through my career."

WATCH: Gilly's 57-ball ton in Perth

However, he was not tempted to try and hit his 101st six straight away.

"No, I said 400 to the boys so it would have looked pretty selfish if I'd stayed out there for one more crack at it."

McCullum will have further opportunities this summer to make the record his own, with one more Test against Sri Lanka, starting in Hamilton on Friday, and then two at home against Australia in February.

He wasn't sharing any banter yet with Gilchrist about the record, and said he would ring him if he had to. He also noted New Zealand played on smaller grounds than Australia, making it easier for him to clear the boundary rope.

WATCH: Angelo Mathews' unusual dismissal in Dunedin

MOST SIXES IN TEST CRICKET

1. Adam Gilchrist 100
2. Brendon McCullum 100*
3. Chris Gayle 98
4. Jacques Kallis 97
5. Virender Sehwag 91
6. Brian Lara 88
7. Chris Cairns 87
8. Viv Richards 84
9. Andrew Flintoff 82
10. Matthew Hayden 82

* Still playing