Cricket World Cup: Is McCullum retiring from ODIs?

New Zealand Black Caps captain Brendon mcCullum after losing to Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the Final between Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

The future of inspirational captain Brendon McCullum will be a hot button topic as New Zealand reassess their one-day planning in the wake of last night's World Cup final loss to Australia.

McCullum refused to confirm or deny rumours that he was poised to quit the one-day game in a bid to extend his test career, which will only fuel the belief that he is readying himself to step away.

"There may be guys within our group who will retire," he said. "We'll let the dust settle on this one and we certainly won't look to try to grab any headlines in the next couple of days.

"We'll be gracious in defeat and work a plan over the next couple of days with the guys who may look to retire."

Brilliant spinner Daniel Vettori and warhorse seamer Kyle Mills will almost certainly step away. Those are McCullum's two closest friends in the team but his own case is a little more complex.

McCullum is definitely well advanced in his thinking beyond cricket. He wants to spend more time with wife Ellissa and three children an has moved into the thoroughbred bloodstock business, but he is also acutely aware of his responsibility to the Black Caps.

The astonishing feat of 100 consecutive tests shines like a beacon for McCullum. He has 92. It is hard to imagine him walking away before then. But ODIs may be sacrificed along the way.

You can bet your house on the fact he won't go on the three ODI, two T20 tour to South Africa this year, but I think there's a few more ODIs to come before he properly hands the reins to Williamson.