McCaw, who made his All Blacks debut a few months before McCullum took his first bow with the Black Caps says McCullum re-ignited his interest in the summer game.
"For a while I didn't probably know who they were, didn't follow as closely as I did when I was younger," said McCaw.
"But in the last few years that team has become a real team; bound together, who really want to do well and strive for excellence. They don't win every time but you can see they are giving absolutely everything - that's when you start following them. That's a credit to his leadership and I've admired watching what he has done."
McCaw added that he has never sat down to formally catch up and swap ideas with his cricketing counterpart.
"[Brendon and I] have shared a beer a few times."said McCaw. "I was interested to know what happens in a cricket team, what are their challenges and what's it like facing that quick guy. He probably asks us a similar type of question."
McCaw, who accompanied by Beauden Barrett, Keven Melalamu, Jerome Kaino and Hansen last night, has recently had his first summer off in more than a decade. He's also enjoyed the chance of reflecting on the All Blacks' unprecedented success over the last few years.
"It's nice to be able to look back without the weight of what's coming up hanging over you," said McCaw, "It's rare to have that as an athlete."
