The New Zealand middle order batsman announced his return to the test cricket arena after a 15-month injury enforced absence with his third century in just his 12th test yesterday.
They have all come against India, following two at home in March last year, but even his career-best 201 at Napier pales in significance with the 26-year-old's classy 103 on the third day of the first test here at Sardar Patel Stadium.
He raised three figures in the last over of the day by smacking fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth to the cover boundary before missing a straight one from the same bowler two balls later to be trapped leg before wicket.
By then Ryder had resurrected his team's cause, aided and abetted by nerveless debutant Kane Williamson, a 20-year-old going on 30 who contributed an unbeaten 87 to their New Zealand record fifth wicket stand against India of 194 runs.
Ryder and Williamson inherited a precarious position from the top order, joining forces shortly before lunch after the loss of two quick wickets with the tourists at a shaky 137 for four chasing India's first innings of 487.
The odd couple -- the baby faced Williamson has attracted nothing but favourable press while Ryder has form for misbehaving after dark -- then defied the Indians for 281 minutes to guide their team to a fighting 331 for five.
Ryder was angry with himself for failing to preserve his wicket, but he had no need to be after an innings full of bloody minded character and which saw him forced to use a runner from the 40s onwards because of a calf strain.
Opening batsman Brendon McCullum, who earlier made 65, said it was a pleasure to sit in the team dressing room and watch on as Ryder and Williamson took it to the world No 1 Indians for the rest of the day.
"It was brilliant. I was obviously disappointed to get out but I sat back in awe how two guys in contrasting situations in their careers responded," McCullum said.
"They did it like a couple of old pros. Kane didn't play a shot in anger and Jesse played more the lead role.
"They are both very calm individuals -- I know that's strange to say about Jess -- but he is when he has a bat in his hand.
"They are both guys who genuinely love batting and genuinely love scoring runs."
Ryder certainly does against India, his latest effort lifting his aggregate against the game's top nation to 430 runs from six innings at an average of 71.66.
His 11th and final boundary yesterday also saw Ryder pass 1000 runs at test level at an average of 52.68 from 19 completed innings.
But yesterday was more about the emotion of the achievement than steel cold statistics.
NZPA
