A couple of years ago Dean Foxcroft was wondering if he would ever be able to resume his cricket career in New Zealand.
Yesterday, the Otago all-rounder was doing back-to-back-to-back interviews in short pants.
Clearly, the 25-year-old South African-born player has adjusted to the temperate climes of his adopted home.
He has also got used to the pitches.
The right-hander was in wonderful form for the Volts last summer and has been called into the Black Caps for the tour of the United Arab Emirates and for a couple of warm-up games in England.
It is a big opportunity for Foxcroft and one he set his mind to when he moved to New Zealand in 2016.
But his dream of playing international cricket morphed into a nightmare when he found himself locked out of the country.
Foxcroft applied for an exemption so he could return and take up his playing contract with Otago.
But he was continuously knocked back. Having exhausted every option, he was left just having to wait it out.
New Zealand fully lifted its border restrictions in August 2022 and Foxcroft and his wife Reandi where able to return.
"Foxy" made up for some lost time. He clubbed 424 runs at an average of 47.11 and also nabbed nine wickets at 19.33 in the Super Smash, and he was Otago’s leading scorer in the Plunket Shield with 631 runs at an average of 45.07.
Those achievements were recognised on the national stage. He was named men’s Super Smash player of the year and men’s domestic player of the year at the New Zealand Cricket Awards.
That got him on the selectors’ radar. But what really paved the way for his selection was the ICC’s decision to approve his eligibility under its "exceptional circumstances" criteria.
That all came flooding to the surface when Black Caps coach Gary Stead informed Foxcroft he had been selected in the Black Caps during a winter training session in Lincoln last week.
"I was over the moon. There was a lot of emotion going on," Foxcroft said.
During his two-year cricketing exile, Foxcroft played virtually no elite cricket. He did take the field for the Lahore Qalanders in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in February 2022.
But he did not bat or bowl and barely touched the ball.
"When I look back now it is actually a cool story to tell. The PSL was a good experience ... but I only played one game — I actually only fielded one ball as well.
"But it was a good experience and I played a bit of club cricket, but it was not ideal."
Not ideal at all. He was concerned his career might be over.
He got through what was a troubling time with the support of his family.
But it was not easy. The Highlanders, the Steel and the Otago Nuggets were all able to bring in players from outside the country, yet Foxcroft remained marooned in the Republic.
"There was obviously times when you think I’ll never come back to New Zealand and play cricket for New Zealand because you never know when Covid is going to stop or what is going to happen to the world," Foxcroft said.
"When I got that green light to come back to New Zealand it was like some bricks coming off my shoulders. But look where I am now."
Where he was was a damp University Oval. Where he is heading will be very different.
The Black Caps are playing three T20s against the UAE in sweltering Dubai next month.
Those shorts might actually come in handy then.
Foxcroft sees the tour as "only that start". He knows he will have to do well to force his way into the side for games against the stronger nations.
But whatever happens, he will need some time off in January. His wife is expecting the couple’s first child.
"We’re becoming a little family of three," Foxcroft said, beaming.
"It is another exciting opportunity and is part of our journey going forward."
