It's been the story of his short test career, but Jamie How hopes yesterday's majestic 170 can help write a new chapter on the biggest stage in world cricket.
The New Zealand opener dominated the first day of the four-day tour match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground with his highest first-class score and ninth century in all.
But it was a one-man show as his 10 teammates contributed fewer than 100 runs as New Zealand were dismissed for 266 by a second-string NSW attack.
How, 27, will be the senior man in New Zealand's top-four when he plays his 15th test in Brisbane next Thursday -- and first in Australia -- feeling in the right frame of mind to finally crack three figures.
His highest score remains 92 against England in Hamilton in March, and there were two more breezy half-centuries in England this year, but his 68 runs in four frustrating Bangladesh innings dropped his test average to 25.08.
"You always want to do well in Australia. They're the best team going around and to do it in Australia is the ultimate, on these great grounds," he said.
"It's just exciting to start off well and hopefully I can keep it going."
There was some typical Kiwi modesty as How reflected on yesterday's innings but he couldn't resist a broad grin when he said: "I thought I played pretty well."
None of the small crowd at the iconic SCG would argue after the Manawatu and Central Districts batsman's chanceless 272-ball knock that included 13 fours and six sixes.
It was the highest score by a New Zealand batsman in 113 years of rivalry with NSW, beating Bill Patrick's 143 at the SCG in 1925-26.
The 332-minute innings finally ended when How was stranded with tailender Chris Martin and holed out to extra cover, after he whacked 29 more runs including consecutive hooked sixes off NSW paceman Grant Lambert who ended with five for 74. How's final boundary took him past his previous best of 169 against Otago five seasons ago.
While his extravagant shots, mainly in his favoured zone square of the wicket, would fill a highlights reel, it was solid defence that gave How the most heart ahead of a joust with Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and company next week.
"It's certainly up there. It's been a while since I've got a hundred in the longer version.
"It was nice to get the defence sorted. It's always nice to leave the ball well and defend nice and straight. That was the most pleasing part of it, then a few slogs at the end."
How said the pitch was good to bat on, easy-paced and not as quick as they expect the Gabba to be next week.
Despite the conditions his fellow batsmen largely perished to loose shots to sound some alarm bells in their only pre-test warmup.
"Maybe I just used up all their runs. I'm sure the guys are hungry for the second innings and they're not wasting their runs, saving them for the test."
One of those will be vice-captain Brendon McCullum who was fuming after being run out for four at the bowler's end when How sent him back as he turned for a marginal second run.
How smiled and insisted McCullum had forgiven him.
"We're tight. No one likes to get run out, I'll buy him a beer, maybe tonight."
