Tim Ambrose responds to a situation of some peril by going on the attack © Getty Images

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For a man who numbers Steve Waugh among his most admired cricketers, perhaps we should not be surprised by Tim Ambrose’s innings.

Ambrose may be playing only his second Test, but the defiant attitude which underscored Waugh’s glittering career for Australia was very much in evidence during the Englishman’s thrillingly pugnacious unbeaten 97 on the opening day of the second Test in Wellington.

His contribution was central to England’s recovery from the depths of 136 for five to 291 for five, a total which, though not yet sufficient to put them in control of this game, at least brought a significant degree of comfort to the dressing room.

Ambrose’s achievements were considerable. He hit 15 fours and a six during almost three hours at the crease, sharing an unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 155 with Paul Collingwood that spanned the entirity of the evening session and more than doubled England’s score.

But - and apologies to the number-crunchers among you - statistics were the least vital aspects of Ambrose’s innings.

By far the most important feature was the manner in which he batted, responding to a perilous situation by mounting a counter-attack of which Waugh would have been proud.

Ambrose survives a testing spell early in his innings

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Displaying unquestionable bravery after being struck on the helmet by a Mark Gillespie bouncer, and taking a fierce blow to the gloves as he leapt to evade a delivery from Chris Martin that arrowed in at his throat, Ambrose also demonstrated a composure belying his status as a Test novice.

By repelling a barrage from a revved-up attack, in conditions unquestionably weighted towards the seamers, he left no-one in any doubt that he possesses the temperament to succeed at the highest level - if any remained after his half-century on debut in Hamilton.

What is more, outscoring a player as experienced as Collingwood by two runs to one suggested Ambrose has the range of stroke worthy of a top-order batsman rather than a wicketkeeper who bats.

Short in stature, it is no surprise that Ambrose is strong off the back foot - he harvested a sizeable chunk of his runs in the arc between point and third man - but his drives off the front foot, notable for the straightness of his bat, were equally pleasing on the eye.

Ambrose bats with a maturity belying his lack of experience

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Though not graceful in the style of, say, Ian Bell, Ambrose executed his shots with a definite crispness, and he timed the ball superbly almost from the moment he walked out to bat.

Allied to a sound defensive technique, which involves minimal yet decisive movement in the crease, the 25-year-old appears well equipped technically to handle the demands of Test cricket, and his response to making a duck in the second innings at Seddon Park last week was another example of his equable temperament.

At 5ft 7in, he was dwarfed by New Zealand’s battery of seamers, and there was one occasion, when he had to scamper around the 6ft 6in Jacob Oram as he went in search of a single, that he resembled a first year student dodging a prefect in the playground.

His size, however, was in no way in proportion to the problems he gave the New Zealand bowlers, who leaked runs at almost four runs an over while Ambrose was batting.

The hosts will know that if he occupies the crease for any length of time on day two, a game which at the moment is finely balanced will be unequivocally tilted in England’s favour.