Peter Fulton      

Peter Fulton, a tall top-order batsman nicknamed "Two-Metre Peter", initially made his mark on first-class cricket by extending his maiden century to 301 not out for Canterbury against Auckland in March 2003, in only his second full season. Thereafter, he got his first international break in 2004, when he made his ODI debut against Bangladesh, while the Test debut followed early in 2006. However, he truly made his mark as an international player only in his second coming, when he returned to the Test side in 2013 after a three-year absence.

Selected to open the innings in the three-Test home series against England, Fulton was prolific, scoring centuries in each innings in the third Test in Auckland. Before that game, Fulton's highest in 19 Test innings had been 75. The series against England re-established Fulton's credentials as a Test player and showed that he could yet live up to his early potential.

Fulton, who has played a lot of club cricket in England, is a product of Canterbury Country, an area rich in cricket history but which had never previously produced an international player. When he first broke into the New Zealand set-up, in 2004-05, he was seen as one for the future. In the ODI series at home against Sri Lanka in 2005-06, scores of 70 not out, 32, 50 and 112 led to a Test baptism: he added 75 in his second match, as New Zealand took an unbeatable lead over West Indies. At the time, John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach, believed he has the tools to open, although he had problems there against South Africa early in 2006.

After being overlooked for New Zealand's initial World Cup games in 2007, Fulton slotted back in as an opener when Lou Vincent flew home. Fulton grabbed the chance and was his team's top scorer three times, including a lone hand of 62 as New Zealand crumbled against Australia. He finished the tournament third on the side's run tally, with 297 at 37.12. Thereafter, a knee injury and inconsistent form kept him out of the national side, till he returned with a bang in 2013.
ESPNcricinfo staff