Jonny Bairstow's century in Antigua saved England from an opening day of humiliation and should signal the start of the fourth phase of the Test career of his great renaissance man.
Bairstow has worn many caps for England. One-day opener, in Test cricket he has batted everywhere from the first drop to No. 7, being a wicket-keeper, close catcher and boundary rider. In 2012-13, he was a player of promise at the end of a great era.
County runs brought him a lasting reminder in 2015 and he remains England's best side until 2019 - as keeper in general - as of 2019, he has fed the scrap: specialist No. 3 in Asia, mid last summer. Back in order, then recalled ashes.
However, Bairstow has never been the leader or the adult in the room. Even as he entered the team's biggest quartile, he was treated to kid gloves. On this tour, with the absence of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, that changed.
Having made his debut a decade ago, he is the longest-serving Test cricketer in this team. Bairstow has been given the responsibility and there is clarity about his place in the team. He says he is "enjoying" his seniority, and is responding with performances.
Bairstow has stood out as a senior player in his scintillating century here and a similarly flamboyant, spirited effort in Sydney in January. Taking four for 36 in Sydney, he scored England's only Ashes century, a major reason it was the only game he did not lose.
This time, he came in at 48 for four and provided a comparable defense. He was careful early on, playing the ball late in his stand of 67 with Ben Stokes, then came the intent to attack - which included seven fours in 10 balls - during the 99 with Ben Fox, who played beautifully .
Of late, against a lively new ball, he consolidated with Woakes in an unbroken 54. They will be looking to build towards 300 - a figure that knocked England out of 10 Ashes attempts - and onwards from today.
In his first two matches of 2022, Bairstow has served as a reminder of just how good a Test cricketer he can be - a batsman suited enough to score hundreds in six different countries across all five Test-playing continents ; A batsman who was very keen to score 1,470 runs while keeping wickets in 2016.
There are several theories as to why Bairstow hasn't always hit those heights. Surely he is not innocent. Technical changes implemented from 2018, which allowed him to become one of the best white-ball openers in the world, led to him being bowled very often. And perhaps his obsession with wicket-keeping has also been harmful.
Most of all, Bairstow was impressed by the recall of Jos Buttler as a luxury player at No. 7 in 2018, while Bairstow kept the wicket at No. 5. The pair are the Lampard and Gerrard of English cricket; His brilliant talent is as good as being fit in the same Test team.
England should learn a lesson from Bairstow's long career. He's got the role that's working at No. 6 - so far it's been as a firefighter, but hopefully he can pile on the pain after a solid start at some stage.
They should not tinker. As he said: "Hopefully, it's a matter of running the game in one position." Bairstow has always longed for this clarity and support.