The Black Caps seam attack will be rolling back the years when it takes the park for the first test against Pakistan in Dunedin next week.
Fast bowler Shane Bond makes a welcome return to the test arena after spending the last two years in exile.
But two years is nothing in comparison to the five years Daryl Tuffey has waited to don the whites for his country again.
Tuffey and Bond have been named in a 13-strong squad which includes Cantabrian Peter Fulton and Wellington all-rounder Grant Elliott.
The squad has been picked for the first two tests of the three-match series against Pakistan.
Tuffey toured Sri Lanka this year but was not picked for either test and remarkably, has not played since June, 2004.
A bicep injury robbed the 31-year-old of two of his prime cricketing years and, like Bond, he signed for the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) and was ruled ineligible.
The pair were thrown an international lifeline when Indian cricket offered ICL players amnesty and other boards followed suit.
Until then, Tuffey had all but given up hope of playing another test and greeted yesterday's news with delight.
"Obviously, I'm pretty pleased," he said.
"I didn't think I was going to be playing test cricket again after signing with the ICL.
But this is really pleasing.
I've bowled pretty well against Pakistan in the few tests I've played against them.
So if I get a chance in this first test I'm looking forward to getting back in the mix again."
Tuffey has played 22 tests and taken 66 wickets at an average of 31.16.
He had the useful knack of striking early, often in his first over.
But if he gets the nod in Dunedin he is probably going to play a support role with Bond and Chris Martin the likely opening combination.
Bond last played in November, 2007.
Few bowlers are as lethal and in his prime his inswinging yorker was a wonderful site.
Watching batsmen fall over trying to prevent the ball from crashing into their stumps never got boring.
But tragically, stress fractures in both his back and foot and a knee injury conspired to kept him on the sidelines far too often.
In six years he played just 17 tests but made a huge impact when he took the field, taking 79 wickets at outstanding average of 22.39.
While his body has let him down so to has New Zealand cricket.
When he signed for the ICL it was under the understanding he could still play for his country.
But when Indian cricket flexed its muscles, New Zealand Cricket was forced to bow down and sacrifice the speedster and he was lost to the international game.
National selector Mark Greatbatch described Bond and Tuffey's return as a reason to get excited about the Black Caps seam attack.
"It is nice for those guys because, for one reason or another, it looked like their careers were finished," Greatbatch said.
"So it is quite special that they are coming back and they a very excited.
"It is almost like they are first timers again.
"But they've got great experience and they are bowling well."
Bitter is not the right word to describe the way Tuffey feels about being sidelined for so much of his career.
You cannot turn back the clock or do much about injuries.
But he does wonder what would have been possible had he stayed fit or not signed with the ICL.
"I could probably be where Chris Martin is now.
"He's on 150 wickets and we started at pretty much the same time.
"When I look back I think I should be sitting on 150 wickets instead of 66.
"But in saying that I'm not the only one who has lost a lot of time through injury.
"The Dion Nashs, Simon Doulls, Chris Cairnses of the world, they've missed a lot of cricket and would love to have the time back again.
"I'd like to think I've got at least four years left in the game ...
"One hundred wickets is definitely a goal."
Black Caps Test squad
Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Daniel Flynn, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott, Peter Fulton, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Vettori (captain), Shane Bond, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin, Daryl Tuffey, Jeetan Patel.
