Tom Latham's century in the second test against England in Hamilton caps a remarkable 12 months for the Black Caps opener.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
He scored an unbeaten 101 on day one at Seddon Park, helping New Zealand to 173/3 before rain washed out the final session.
It is Latham's fifth century in his last 10 innings, a run which started against Sri Lanka in December last year, when he scored a career-best 264 not out at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
The left-hander is unable to put a finger on what's been the catalyst behind his form.
"I'm not sure what it is. If I knew what it was I'd be trying to bottle that up as much as possible," Latham said.
"I think for me it's just about trying stick to a plan for long periods of time and it's probably what's given me success over the last year or so.
"I think sometimes you can get a little bit ahead of yourself and all of a sudden you're walking back to the pavilion.
"It's nice being able to stick to a plan and adapt to each surface."
Latham is now sixth equal on the list of New Zealand test century-makers with 11 and has become the country's 10th highest test run-scorer.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
"It's nice to get to those milestones but for us it's about putting that team first and trying to put as many runs together as possible.
"The milestones along the way are great, but as a collective the team score is the important one."
And he doesn't pay any attention to the rankings, which currently see him sit eighth, behind only Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karurantne amongst openers.
"It's about trying to do my role as best as I can for the team and if those things come then that it's great but it's certainly not a focus of mine.
"The focus of mine is just trying to my role as best as I can for this group."
His immediate focus is helping build the Black Caps' first innings total at Seddon Park.
"The first two hours are going to be really important.
"Hopefully we can keep building partnerships throughout the morning and put a good score on the board.
"It's something we talk about as a batting group is just keep trying to build partnerships throughout the innings from one to 11."
Henry Nicholls (5*) will be at the crease with Latham when play resumes in Hamilton.
Day two is scheduled to start half an hour earlier at 10:30am.
