David Warner: NZ will struggle to overcome McCullum's retirement

Steve Smith of Australia and David Warner of Australia shake hands with Brendon McCullum of the Black Caps. Photo / Getty Images.

David Warner believes the influence of Brendon McCullum is so great that New Zealand cricket will struggle to overcome the retirement of their highly-regarded captain.

Two of the game's most powerful hitters might have clashed heads in recent times - McCullum labelling the Australian opener "petulant" and Warner responding by telling the Black Caps' "Mr Nice Guy" to mind his own business - but the respect is strong.

Warner says despite their very public difference of opinion following a controversial newspaper column McCullum wrote in the aftermath to last year's Ashes, there are few cricketers in the world he would rather share a beer with.

McCullum will today play his 100th consecutive Test match, an extraordinary achievement.

New Zealand can use McCullum's looming retirement as motivation to topple Australia in what would be a historic achievement, but once this series is over, Warner says the Black Caps will find it difficult to fill the giant void he will leave - so immense is the 34-year-old's influence.

"I think since he's taken over as captain he's done a fantastic job so far in getting New Zealand cricket to play the way that he wants New Zealand to be perceived as and that's a great thing for their sport," Warner told News Corp.

"He's going to leave a big hole experience-wise in that team. You look at the greats like Stephen Fleming and Daniel Vettori when they left, what key roles they had in the game - they played massive roles for New Zealand.

"You're going to see that role get taken away from them again and I think not just from a batting but a leadership point of view.

"I think whoever takes over there is definitely going to have big shoes to fill.

"I'm sure whoever does take that responsibility (Kane Williamson) will do a great job.

"But as a person and a character (McCullum) is one guy I do have the utmost respect for."

McCullum admitted yesterday in a lengthy press conference where he reminisced about his 14-year international career that he won't go down as an all-time great.

A modest Test average of 38.48 shrinks to just 26.16 in matches against Australia.

Warner last year took exception to McCullum on one hand trying to sell the virtues of the 'spirit of cricket' and on the other throwing stones at he and Steve Smith for their behaviour in a series that didn't even involve his team.

But the Australian vice-captain said McCullum was a role model for all cricketers to follow.

"He's always a gentleman and always has been. He's a great person to sit down and have a beer with," said Warner.

"Cricket is losing a true gentleman from the sport."