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Ahmedabad: Jesse Ryder, who scored a defiant century against India and also got involved in a record 194-run partnership with debutant Kane Williamson, batted with a runner for the better part of his knock due to a stiff calf muscle, New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum said on Saturday.
"It was due to the stiffening of his calf muscle," said McCullum, who made a 65, after the third day's play in the first Test.
26-year-old Ryder scored 103 in 205 balls in just over five hours' stay at the crease, hitting 10 fours and a six off Harbhajan Singh in the process.
McCullum, who has given up his wicket-keeping duties in Tests to colleague Gareth Hopkins, saw a bright future for the Ryder and Kane Williamson, who remained unbeaten on 87.
"I watched some of the best batting we've seen from a New Zealand No.5 and No.6 for a long long time. I don't think anyone could have expected those guys to play as well as they did," said the 29-year-old Dunedin-born hard-hitting batsman.
"We have high expectations of each member of this team, but Jesse (Ryder) hasn't played a Test for a while and Kane (Williamson) was playing his first. To put on that size partnership against quality bowlers has put us in a position where we're now back in the match," he said.
Left-handed Ryder slammed his third century in his 12th Test and incidentally all his three-figure efforts have come against India. He scored 102 and 201 during India's tour of New Zealand in March 2009.
Baby of the team Williamson remained unbeaten on 87 in a team total of 331 for five that has left the Kiwis 156 runs adrift of the India's first innings tally of 487.
"He's 20 years of age. Guys don't tend to develop in New Zealand till they're much older than that. He's an incredible talent. We saw that during his one-day hundred in Bangladesh a couple of weeks ago, and we've seen it here against a very good Indian bowling line-up," McCullum said.
"He has ability to negotiate tough periods and fight his way through. He has a real calm presence at the crease and I hope he goes on tomorrow to what would be a memorable Test hundred," he elaborated.
McCullum, who has the credit of hitting the first-ever century in the IPL, was optimistic that his side can still make a match of it.
