That sort of sums up Michael Rippon’s view.
The Otago wrist spinner has been named in the Netherlands national side for its ODI series against New Zealand.
The 30-year-old will front for the Volts for their Plunket Shield match against Wellington in Dunedin beginning on Sunday, and will then join the Dutch.
He will miss the one-off T20 on March 25 but will be available for all three ODIs.
The left-armer has previous form for the Netherlands. He played six ODIs and 18 T20s for the side between 2013 and 2018.
But since signing for Otago in 2017-18, the South African-born player has had another national squad in mind.
He has thrown his kit bag in with New Zealand and would like to play for the Black Caps.
Rippon received a courtesy call before New Zealand’s tour of Bangladesh and Pakistan last year and was told he was not considered because of his residential status.
He is not a New Zealand citizen and while he could have left the country, he might not have been able to return because of the border restrictions due to Covid-19.
It was a near miss but a good sign he was on the radar.
Rippon’s form has slipped back this season, but the chance to play for the Dutch against his adopted country is a wonderful platform for him to show his abilities.
"It is going to be a good opportunity," he said.
"Obviously it does not affect my [New Zealand] eligibility."
Just to clarify the eligibility rules, you can move from a lower-tier cricketing nation to a higher tier without having to stand down for a period.
Effectively, Rippon could play for the Netherlands one day and the Black Caps the next.
"New Zealand Cricket have been really good about it. I’ve spoken to people there and they say it is a good opportunity to play at that level.
"So it is a no-brainer to go and take that opportunity. I never actually retired from playing for the Netherlands. It was just during the [New Zealand] qualifying period and Covid, there was not an opportunity to play cricket for them.
"But with them coming over, they got in touch and it will be quite cool to get involved again with them."
The Dutch have a couple of other Otago connections. Netherlands opener Max O’Dowd was in outstanding form for Otago A last season, and strike bowler Freddie Klaassen played for Green Island while studying at the University of Otago.
Rippon is fresh from two really strong seasons but the all-rounder has not enjoyed the same level of success this summer.
"I wouldn’t say I’ve been feeling out of form with the bat, but my decision-making hasn’t been great. I’ve got myself out in the majority of the games that I’ve played.
"And with the ball, I’ve had good spells and poor spells. It is just that consistency which hasn’t been there this year."
