David Leggat: Nicholls not just the guy at other end

Henry Nicholls has lacked consistency at times. Photo / Getty Images

Amid the high praise heaped on Kane Williamson after his record-setting 18th test century yesterday, the mind turned to the batsman at the other end.

Granted, this might seem an odd direction to take, but Henry Nicholls has played a significant innings of his own at Eden Park.

He will start today on 49, a blink shy of what would be his sixth test 50. His contribution to the New Zealand innings so far has been notable. Now he needs to press on.

While Williamson was charting his own, and New Zealand's, course in an utterly dominant display to shame England's feeble batting, Nicholls was a reliable lieutenant.

Williamson had shared an 84-run stand with Tom Latham to put New Zealand ahead of England. But much more was needed. The Canterbury left-hander will start today with an average of 33.68 in his 17th test. It should be tracking upward. He was gritty and resolute on Thursday night. Yesterday he was patient, just the occasional drive and hook to show his mind was still tuned into scoring opportunities.

Nicholls has not been a universally applauded pick for New Zealand since his debut two years ago when he made a resolute half century against Australia at Wellington.

He has lacked consistency at times and has been guilty of frittering away opportunities, none more starkly than when he lashed out needlessly at Bangladesh's spinner Mehedy Hasan on 98 in Christchurch last season.

It cost him a maiden hundred. That did come, and impressively, against South Africa in Wellington two tests later.

But when he has fallen prey to rash judgments, other names get worked about. Why hasn't so-and-so been given a chance? There's a suspicion that the depth of New Zealand middle order batting mightn't be as strong as some like to think.

That's why you have selectors. They back hunches; they don't always get them right, but Nicholls has been persevered with.

The last three hours of his test batting life have been proof that the selectors are on to something.

The rider to that is it's time to ditch the scatty moments and make the most of every test opportunity.

You wonder if that time at the crease with Williamson in this test, might yet help push Nicholls' output to the next level.

After all, he could scarcely have had a better case study than his skipper.