New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum turned a hundred into a double century yesterday, putting his side in a dominant position in its test against India at Eden Park.
The 32-year-old Otago right-hander joined an elite club with his fabulous knock of 224, as he steered the Black Caps to an imposing total of 503.
Only 13 players have posted double centuries for New Zealand, and even fewer have achieved the feat a second time. That list has just four names on it and now includes McCullum. Stephen Fleming has three double centuries and Glenn Turner and Mathew Sinclair have two apiece.
When bad light trimmed 17 overs off the end of the second day, India had partially recovered from 10 for three wickets to be 130-4.
Just how McCullum views his innings in time will correlate directly to the outcome.
''If we go on and win the test it'll probably be my best innings, in terms of the pressure we were under and the opposition we're playing,'' he said last night.
''We're pretty confident we've got the bowlers to take the wickets we need, providing we execute in areas we know we can.''
He also acknowledged the need for a captain to perform.
''You've just got to keep faith from a personal point of view, that the hard work and desire is burning strong.''
The third day's play is scheduled to begin 26 minutes early today, at 10.34am.
