New Zealand cricket great Martin Crowe is hoping Brendon McCullum reaches the milestone that so famously eluded him 23 years ago at the Basin Reserve.
Captain McCullum, on 281, is primed to move past Crowe's highest Test score for the Black Caps of 299 and become their first triple centurion.
With New Zealand likely to bat on for at least an hour on the fifth day of the second Test against India on Tuesday, McCullum has time to become the game's 24th player to reach 300.
Rather than be protective of his own record, Crowe hopes the 32-year-old can go one better than he did against Sri Lanka in 1991.
Crowe said on Twitter he was "rooting him on" and praised the way McCullum was leading his side from the front in a record-breaking rearguard.
"The critical thing BMac has done in the last two weeks is control his emotions - no big smiles, just sheer focus and determination to keep on."
Centurion BJ Watling, who shared a world record sixth-wicket partnership of 352 with McCullum, said milestones didn't drive them throughout an eight-hour stand.
He said the 84-Test veteran deserved to reach his personal landmark and would have the dressing room on tenterhooks on Tuesday morning.
"Everyone is excited and will be watching every ball. Hopefully Baz does it tomorrow."
If he was feeling pressured by the record, McCullum didn't show it, nearly botching a reverse sweep on 273 and playing a series of bold strokes before closing up shop late in the day.
