Having been given little more than a taste of international cricket in 2007 when he was included for two Twenty20 Internationals against the West Indies, he had to wait until 2009 to get his next piece of the action and he took his opportunity with both hands with a crucial 119 in the final Test against Australia at The Oval.
He enjoys batting against Australia, adding 135 in Brisbane, 78 in Adelaide and an unbeaten 168 in Melbourne as he played his part in England’s momentous 3-1 Ashes win overseas. For good measure, he also scored 226 against Bangladesh at Lord’s in 2010 and 203 against Sri Lanka in Cardiff earlier this season and with an average of over 60, stands in exalted company – second only to the great Sir Don Bradman.
He is no less effective a player in One-Day International cricket as three centuries – two against Australia – would testify having honed his skills with Warwickshire since 2003.
Following his move to England from South Africa in 2003, he established himself as a key member of a talented Warwickshire batting line-up that over the years has produced many an England international, batting alongside the likes of Nick Knight, Ian Bell and Jim Troughton.
His first-class debut for the Bears came against Sussex and he marked the occasion by scoring 134 opening the batting, following up a score of 245 on debut for the second XI one year earlier.
The fact that he is also one of England’s leading run-scorers in Twenty20 cricket proves how quickly and effectively he is able to adapt his game to the needs of his team. England and Warwickshire are both fortunate that having played for South Africa’s Under-19 side, he decided to head for Birmingham eight years ago.