When it comes to talent in cricket it is hard to go past what Mark Greatbatch has to offer.
A more multi-talented batsmen in New Zealand's game, certainly in the last generation or so, it is difficult to imagine.
While he grew up alongside one of the more classical batsmen in Martin Crowe, Greatbatch was very much his own animal.
Consider the examples in his career.
In his Test debut at Eden Park in 1987-88, in the most boring series in all of Christendom, he achieved a century, refusing to be put off by the comatose state of most who attempted to watch the series.
At Perth, he defied the Australian attack for the best part of a day as it attempted to grind New Zealand out of the game in 1989. But in an effort that remains the gutsiest in New Zealand's Test history, he broke the back of a not unreasonable attack of bowlers like Merv Hughes, Terry Alderman, Geoff Lawson, Carl Rackemann and Tom Moody while scoring 146 not out to finally accept Allan Border's handshake and admittance that the game had gone.
Then at what, upon reflection, was a critical point in his career he stepped up to open the batting. At the time it was the one sure way to gain a place in the Test side because John Wright was in the throes of retiring and Trevor Franklin had given the game away.
It wasn't the happiest transition and while he emerged in one-day cricket, Test cricket and opening never appeared to sit comfortably for Greatbatch.
But he helped transform the opening role in one-day cricket during the 1992 World Cup when, after not being included in the first two games, he emerged onto Eden Park to single-handedly destroy a South African team which had just matched the New Zealanders by claiming the Australian scalp in their first games of the tournament.
No-one was safe as Greatbatch sprayed the ball all over, and onto the roof, of the old northern stand at Eden Park.
A week later he was at it again with the West Indies in the firing line. Curtly Ambrose wasn't impressed, but Greatbatch showed his love of the fight by refusing to be bowed. There was a ruggedness of the blindside flanker that Greatbatch brought to cricket.
And his six from fast bowler Malcolm Marshall's bowling, over extra cover, was probably the shot of the tournament, and possibly the shot of Greatbatch's career. Audacious, powerful, stunning!
Greatbatch ended his Test career with just over 2000 runs and an average just over 30. He was worth many more runs but was another player who finished unfulfilled.
Since then he has gone down the coaching road and now has been handed the role with the New Zealand side.
It is an invidious time to be involved. But Greatbatch has street cred, he's been there and he's done that. He's mixed attack and defence, he's been a revolutionary, he's been a conservative.
Now it's just a case of finding the right mix. His relationship with Daniel Vettori, possibly one of the most capable cricketers, in the broadest sense, New Zealand has produced, will be vital and while the combination is untried and unproven, more interesting times, with interesting prospects lie ahead for the side.