New Zealand's swashbuckling wicket keeper-batsman Brendon McCullum said on Friday that he was relieved to have finally scored a hundred against a top side like India after getting his previous two tons against minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

"It has been so long between hundreds. There were some 90s and 80s in between. No disrespect to Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, but to get one against a top quality side like India means a lot," McCullum, who made a cavalier 115 in New Zealand's towering total of 619 for nine declared in the ongoing second Test, said.

"It has been a long time coming. There was a bit of emotion there as well when I got to three figures. It has been far too long between centuries for my liking. It is nice as well to get it against a side as good as India. It was a good time to bat," he added.

The dapper wicketkeeper-batsman said he was just about getting into Test mode. "It seems a bit strange that I am starting to find the right tempo after 40-odd Tests. I have to bat for long hours. It has helped with the results I am starting to get, but you always want to do more. An average in the early 30s is not where I want to be in the long term. I want to bump that up to 40-45," he said.

Mccullum said he would prefer batting higher up the order. "You always want to bat higher because you want to make more contribution to the side. But the way our batting order sits at the moment, with Jesse coming in at five and doing so well.”

... contd.