Hamilton Boys' High School old boy BJ Watling may have slipped out of the news following Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum's New Zealand record of 302 against India in Wellington, but his effort will still go down in cricketing history.
Joining McCullum in dire straights at 94/5, Watling faced 367balls spanning 8 hours of playing time to make his highest test score of 124.
The pair's stand of 352 - arguably the finest in the history of New Zealand cricket given the situation and opposition - set a world record for the sixth-wicket in test cricket, surpassing the mark of 351 set by Sri Lanka's Mahela and Prasanna Jayawardene against the same opposition in 2009.
Hamilton coach Nathan Daley was not surprised Watling had blossomed into a fine wicketkeeper batsman in test cricket.
"I've seen him grow up the whole way along," Daley said. "I kept a few games myself for Northern Districts and had a little bit to do with him, and he's a good mate as well.
"From a young age we knew he was going to be special - he is a pretty determined little bloke to get to where he is now. He always seemed more determined than everyone else. A lot of the New Zealand public thought he was a part-time keeper, but he's actually kept his whole life. He's been awesome; I don't think he's done anything wrong."
