Otago batsman Aaron Redmond has added a few greys since he last played test cricket five years ago.
''Better grey than bald,'' he replied when this reporter, who is also grey and, sadly, balding, engaged in a little sledging a month or so ago.
The 34-year-old might be ''experienced'' these days but, through perseverance, he has forced his way back into the Black Caps.
Redmond replaces Kane Williamson, who was expected to be named in the playing XI for today's test against the West Indies at the University Oval but was ruled out with a thumb injury.
Redmond suffered through a dreadful form slump in 2011-12 and was dropped from all three formats for Otago.
His career was in the balance and it certainly appeared unlikely he would add to his seven test appearances.
But the break worked in his favour.
He returned the following summer refreshed and was the leading scorer in the Plunket Shield last season with 941 runs at an average of 55.35.
The previous summer he scored just 157 runs at 14.27, so it was a huge turnaround.
''He had a tough year a few years ago when he was captain of the Otago team and the way he has responded since then has been brilliant,'' Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum said.
''So it is a really nice story and I think it is one for the older guys around first-class cricket that the door is never shut on those guys if they keep banging out runs.''
Williamson was desperate to play and seemed upbeat about his prospects earlier in the week.
But the 23-year-old broke a bone in his thumb during the tour of Bangladesh in October and would have had to field with some sort of support around the thumb, which would have been far from ideal.
Williamson's absence is a big loss.
He has made the troublesome No 3 spot his own with some solid performances and his ability to get through some overs of offspin adds to the strength of the side.
''It was a tough decision but in the end it was just a touch too early for Kane,'' McCullum said.
''He probably could have played but in the grand scheme of the season we've got in front of us, and how valuable he is to us as well, we saw it as more of a safer option by letting him miss this one and give him another week to recover.
''[Redmond] has been in such good form and ... [we] saw him as the person we thought would be a better option in this test match.''
Pace bowler Doug Bracewell will be 12th man. Tim Southee will spearhead the attack with the support of left-armers Trent Boult and Neil Wagner.
All-rounder Corey Anderson, another lefty, is managing a rib injury but will be available to bowl some overs. Ish Sodhi will shoulder the slow bowling load although McCullum said the team considered playing four specialist seamers.
''I guess we've picked a team for five days rather than for the first day and Ish has been bowling quite nicely, and with Kane out we really did need that spin option.''
Redmond, who started his career as a very useful legspinner and actually has three test wickets, is no longer considered a bowling option.
McCullum said this was a ''big series'' for the Black Caps.
''From our point of view we know we have a tough challenge, but it is a series where we expect to perform well and we know that the expectation is on us to get some results after what has been a little bit of a lean period.''
''The West Indies team without Chris Gayle is a far easier prospect, albeit we are still respectful of the guys that will replace him.''
