LONDON: New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum will deliver this year's Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord's, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) announced Tuesday.

The lecture is named in honour of the late former England captain Colin Cowdrey, an all-time great batsman who was also renowned for the courteous way he played the game.

The 34-year-old McCullum, a veteran of 99 Tests, is due to retire from international cricket next month before heading to Lord's to play for county side Middlesex in English domestic cricket's Twenty20 Blast competition.

One of the most hard-hitting batsmen of his generation, McCullum has also won plaudits for the aggressive yet sporting way in which he has captained New Zealand.

He will deliver his address at Lord's on June 6, three days before the start of the Lord's Test against Sri Lanka.

The inaugural Cowdrey Lecture was given by the late Richie Benaud in 2001 and subsequent speakers have included New Zealand great Martin Crowe, Pakistan's Imran Khan, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, as well as notable figures from outside cricket such as South Africa's Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

McCullum, who follows last year's speaker Rodney Marsh, the former Australia wicket-keeper turned chairman of selectors, said in an MCC statement: “It was an honour to be asked to deliver the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture — especially given the stature of some previous speakers — so I was very pleased to accept the invitation.”

MCC president Roger Knight added: “Brendon McCullum is one of the best cricketers of his generation, and I'm sure will be a very engaging speaker — especially given his insight in to the modern game.”

“He has embodied the play hard, play fair message of the MCC Spirit of Cricket throughout his playing career, especially in his captaincy — so is a perfect fit for this event.”