Darren Bravo was the dominant figure on the fourth day of the first test between the Black Caps and the West Indies at a sweltering University Oval yesterday.
Bravo batted the whole day and showed wonderful temperament and stroke play to score his first test double century of his career.
It was a highly disciplined innings and he finished 210 not out, having batted for more than nine hours and faced 404 balls.
The comparison with a certain other left-hander from Trinidad and Tobago is obvious to see.
He has the time, the elegant strokeplay and the mental ability to stay calm when under pressure.
In fact, Bravo is a cousin of Brian Lara.
Afterwards Bravo said it was no secret he was a fan of Lara.
''Growing up as a kid Brian was the only guy I would look up to in the West Indies. Whenever Brian was in newspapers or magazines, I used to stick it up in a room. Every time I was a kid I would try to be like Brian. He has been there for me 100% and that is very, very close to my heart,'' Bravo said.
Lara had been in touch with Bravo before the test, telling him it was time to step up and play a major knock for his side, and he was intending to check his phone last night to see if there was a message from the West Indian great.
Bravo is only 24 and this was his fifth test century, passing his previous best of 195, against Bangladesh.
He never looked in any trouble after resuming on 72 overnight and stood strong against a solid, if unspectacular, home attack.
''It is a great feeling. I set myself at the start of the day to bat the whole day. We identified at the start of the day we had to bat the whole day to make them bat again.
''This was the first time I have batted this long for quite some time ... I know the New Zealand bowling line-up is a very good one so that was big challenge.''
It was his first test century outside the sub-continent, and strangely his average overseas is double of what he manages at home. It was the first test double ton scored in a follow-on since VS Laxman in 2001 in India.
He was dropped just once, by Neil Wagner, who put down a sharp caught-and-bowled chance when he was on 82.
The man from Trinidad and Tobago had a few nerves when on 199 and it was a streaky shot past first slip which brought up his 200.
''There was a bit of nerves there. Especially when the bowler was running up and the fans all clapping ... but I didn't want to try anything rash because I knew a single was right round the corner and not waste all what I have done.''
And the work was not over yet, as the visitors hunt for a draw.
''It is very important that myself and Darren Sammy analyse the conditions as soon as possible in the morning so we can give New Zealand a challenging target to chase.''
He felt the players needed to stay positive in the final day and keep scoring runs.
Bravo for Bravo: At a glance
• Highest test score for Bravo
• First double century in a team following on since 2001
• Third-highest score by a West Indian in New Zealand
• No team has lost when a batsman has scored a double century when following on
• 26th West Indian to score a double century
