Robert Key responded to another potential crisis in his fledgling Test career by playing an innings bristling with determination and character to lead England to victory in the third npower Test against West Indies.
Having seized his chance spectacularly with a double century when Mark Butcher was ruled out with injury for the opening Test at Lord's, Key has struggled to follow that brilliant display since to prompt speculation that he was just keeping the place warm.
In three of the four innings since he has not reached 30 and that had begun the familiar whispers about his technique and composure when the pressure was intense and the stakes at their highest.
But he answered all his critics today and was the steadying influence as England kept their resolve to successfully chase a victory target of 231 - the highest-ever in the fourth innings of an Old Trafford Test - and complete a seven-wicket triumph with 27.2 overs to spare.
Key's unbeaten 93, completed during over four hours at the crease and including nine boundaries, helped England to their sixth successive triumph of the summer and their best run since they achieved an identical feat in 1958 and helped overcome nerves during a tense final day cheered on by 14,000 fans at Old Trafford.
With rain clouds threatening to play a major part, although they only lost eight overs during the day following a shower at lunch, England's cause was anything but straight forward particularly with man-of-the-match Graham Thorpe nursing a broken right little finger.
In the event Thorpe, a master of these situations, was not required with Key helping England overcome the loss of both openers inside the first nine overs of the day following hostile spells with the new ball and keep them on course for a second successive series whitewash in Thursday's final Test at the Oval.