The bustling 26-year-old right-armer made his first-class debut for Otago in November 2007, picking up just one wicket and conceding 89 runs. But two years later, and with a bit more experience, the strapping seamer found his groove in the one-day format, taking 14 wickets at an average of 14.71 in five games for Otago. He was one of the finds of the season and appeared to have a very bright future.
That future started to unravel last season when he was sidelined with a hip injury for most of the summer, playing just two first-class games.
Despite a limited contribution, he did enough to earn a playing contract for 2011-12.
Unfortunately, a serious back injury has intervened. Bullick has a bulging disk and a tear in another and faces a long rehabilitation. His contract was formally redistributed on Monday, with left-armer Craig Smith the beneficiary.
"Basically, I'm out for good, really," Bullick said.
"It [the back] is a bit of a mess. I can't really do anything on my feet at the moment which makes playing cricket a little bit of an issue.
"I will have to look at an operation in the future if it gets a little too frustrating for me because, at the moment, I can't do anything - I can't run, I can only cycle, really."
Bullick hopes he will be able to return to the cricket field eventually but said he would never be able to play at the elite level again.
It is a terribly disappointing end but Bullick remains positive about his future.
"Obviously, I was looking at another few years playing cricket and seeing how far it could take me ... but this is the end of the road for me. Life goes on, doesn't it. I'm reasonably excited about other things that are going to happen in my life so it is not the end of the world."
Bullick, who is living in Auckland, has a degree in tourism and marketing from the University of Otago and said the players' association had been very supportive.
"I've basically retired so the contract gets given to someone else.
"It is a bit of a change and I'm not really sure what I'll do to be honest. I played for Otago as soon as I finished university, so I don't have any previous work experience. But the players' association have been looking after me and making sure I'm heading in the right direction with career advice."
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson said Bullick's retirement was a "hell of a blow".
"We all feel for him as a group and he had a big part to play in all forms of the game for us this year," Johnson said.
"He is someone we were looking to for the next couple of years so it is a big loss for us."
