Joe Root admits he felt he "owed" England a century after enduring a lean run of form across the past two Test series' against South Africa and Pakistan.
Root was in the midst of his longest run without a hundred in more than two years when he came to the crease with England in trouble after losing early wickets in the second Test against New Zealand in Wellington.
However, he and Harry Brook proceeded to share a mammoth 302-run partnership that put England firmly in control of the Test and allowed captain Ben Stokes to declare. While Brook top scored with an excellent 186, his fourth century in just six Tests, Root's unbeaten 153 marked a welcome return to form for the former captain.
"I felt like I owed that to the group," Root admitted at the close of play. "It's been a while since I made a solid contribution. To be part of such a big partnership was really pleasing and I think the best thing was I had the best seat in the house to watch Harry go about his business.
"It's a joy to watch him play at the minute. He certainly made my life a lot easier out there, the way he manages to wrestle momentum in our favour and constantly put bowlers under pressure.
"When he comes and plays as he does - if you slightly over-pitch he hits you over your head, if you miss short he goes midwicket, he'll back away and hit you through the off side - it's difficult to know where to bowl with him.
"When you get down the other end it just feels like there's less pressure on you, and more opportunity to get him back on strike and down the business end. I felt we had a really good understanding, we negated a few modes of dismissal by getting down the crease.
"We fed off each quite nicely and made it difficult for them to bowl one length for us." As soon as Root passed the 150 mark for the 14th time in Test cricket, Stokes decided to declare with England 435-8.
It was a decision Root called "brave", but one which paid off as James Anderson and Jack Leach took three wickets apiece to leave New Zealand faltering at 138-7 at the close of play. And Root has been hugely impressed by Stokes' captaincy since taking over last summer, having guided England to 10 wins in 11 Tests.
"I think it was a brilliant call from Ben," Root added of the declaration. "It felt like that 40 minutes before the break, the sun was out and with 40 minutes of sun, a heavy roller and 40 minutes of sun at lunch, it might have changed the wicket.
"It didn't work out like that, it gave a better opportunity to make the most of conditions. The way we're playing at the minute with the confidence we've got, seeing the ball move around with the No. 1 Test bowler, the two leading wicket-takers we've ever had, it just seemed a very brave and attacking option.
"Full credit to Ben, as you'd expect, for taking it on. He's just walked so naturally into the role, he's managing the game really well and everyone is responding to it. I just think was a brilliant call from him, it would have been very easy for us to keep going and we might not be sat here with them seven-down tonight. Credit to him, he's doing a great job."
