India second-best against resolute McCullum
Building on the chances he got in the field, Brendon McCullum scored his toughest hundred yet, ensuring India's substantial lead was wiped off, in spite of some diligent play

Brendon McCullum and BJ Watling survived tough spells of bowling and capitalised on the chances to ensure India batted again • Getty Images
'McCullum growing in stature as a Test player'
Brendon McCullum has grown in stature as a Test player, New Zealand batting coach Bob Carter has said. McCullum began the home summer with 113 against West Indies in Dunedin and then hit a game-changing 224 against India in the first Test in Auckland. He has followed that up with an unbeaten 114, rescuing the side from 94 for 5 in their second innings in Wellington.
"He is now using his defence," Carter said. "Brendon has really shown his defensive game has come forward. And as well as he still likes to attack. I think he is growing in stature as a Test player and I would like to see him play a lot more."
McCullum also battled pain in his arm and back during his innings, taking treatment on occasion. Carter said McCullum had been consistently putting his body on the line, and he preferred the captain was more cautious on the field.
"You see how he is in the field. I sort of prefer him to just run to the boundary and just knock the ball back but he sets our tone all the time," he said. "And you have seen him dive - he dived on about seven or eight occasions while he was fielding and sets that example to everybody.
"I think it has been a tough summer all round but the funny side of it is that Brendon had a little bit of a shoulder injury from shining the ball yesterday. He was trying to get it to swing a lot as well trying to get it changed a lot. And then he was joking today that his bottom hand was playing up. I prefer it to be his top hand actually."
Abhishek Purohit is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo