Brendon McCullum says he never gets bored playing cricket and still has an unquestionable drive to play for Otago.
McCullum (28) was in Dunedin yesterday, on a promotional tour, before a minor knee operation in Christchurch on Monday, which will force him out of the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka next month.
But it is good timing, for he became the proud father of daughter Maya a couple of weeks ago.
McCullum said he enjoyed playing cricket wherever it took him, and never tired of it.
"It is not a grind. The hardest thing is being away from your family. That is tough. I've got a 6-year-old boy [Riley] growing up pretty quickly," he said.
"But I'm doing what I love doing and they are pleased I'm doing what I love doing. I do still love it and I'm fortunate enough to make a living and provide for my family by doing what I'm doing. Sometimes it is hard but then it would never be anywhere near as satisfying when you get the results."
McCullum has become almost a gun for hire, having spent the best part of last month playing for Sussex in the English twenty/20 competition, after previous stints in India and Australia for domestic sides. He said as the game grew, so would the demand for players.
"I think that is where it is heading; it is becoming part and parcel of the game. I'm completely dedicated in playing for Otago and New Zealand ... but also you have to look at opportunities elsewhere and look at opportunities to make a better life for yourself, and when they come along, you've got to take those.
"At the moment it is a pretty good time to be involved in cricket. You're able to play for different teams, experience different cultures."
McCullum said when he played for King's High School First XI he never imagined how the game would change.
"Who knows what it will be like in 20 years time ?"
His contract had come to a close with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the mega-rich Indian Premier League, so his future in the sub-continent was unclear.
But one gets the feeling he will be back involved in the Indian circus.
"I say this to a few people but it is not reality ... I'm just a boy from South Dunedin and we're getting crowds of 90,000, 95,000 to a home game. You don't get that in South Dunedin. It is not reality but sometimes you treat it for what it is.
"It's a huge tournament, so you try to do as well as you possibly can. They are just so keen. It is way worse than rugby here. You'll have 3000 people outside your hotel waiting for you to walk past. It is not reality but it is good fun."
The expectations were high in the IPL but that was understandable.
He loved the thrill and the quick-fire nature of twenty/20 cricket, the challenge of one-day cricket - though he admitted it needed a jazz-up - while test cricket brought the ultimate satisfaction when victory was secured.
It is in the longer form of the game where McCullum looks to make the biggest impact over the next couple of years, after he made the call last month to give up the gloves and play solely as a batsman.
"I spent hours over the decision. I've always been a wicket-keeper batsman so to throw one string away and throw away the certainty and continuity of selection is a big thing. Now I'm in the mix. It might work or might not work, but I'll give it a crack anyway."
He said his body was telling him it was time to make a change.
"I knew something was going to have to give at some point. I've been lucky enough to have six years of doing it relatively injury free. But over time things started to slow down and affected me."
New Zealand's upcoming schedule made the decision for him.
"We've got three tours of the subcontinent coming up and that is the hardest place to play in the terms of wicketkeeping. Sometimes you've got 180 overs on the park, three days on the bounce in 45degC temperatures.
"That is when you get lazy. That is when your technique starts to go, and the body starts hurting. That was a contributing factor."
He now has his eyes on an opening role or coming in at three, and said he would not be changing his aggressive style.
" If they want someone to tighten up then they should pick someone else. That is what I will try to bring to the table, still be aggressive at the top of the order."
Most other teams had aggressive batsman at the top of the order, such as Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag.
One gets the feeling McCullum will not die wondering
"It may not work. It may be the worst decision I ever make in my career, but I won't go back. That will be a side door for me. It's something I'm excited by."
• Brendon McCullum
Age: 28
Tests: 52, highest score: 185, average: 34.9
ODIs: 171, highest score: 166, average: 29.01
Twenty/20: 40, highest score: 116, average: 33.33
