On Boxing Day at Hagley Oval, Neil Broom did something he never thought he’d do again - play for the BLACKCAPS.
Six years after his last ODI for his country, the Otago right hander made a return to international cricket in a series opening victory against Bangladesh in Christchurch.
"It felt really good to put on the black shirt again. It's was a good six or seven years ago and I've played a lot of cricket since then, but it felt pretty special.
“It's nice to be given a chance at this late stage in my career. I never thought it'd happen again but I don't want to look back with any regrets this time.”
"I wasn't as nervous as I was when I played for the first time all those years ago, I'm a bit older now at 33, and I'm looking at each game as if it's my last to stamp my mark on the time."
Broom felt their had been a marked change in the culture of the team since he last played for New Zealand.
“It’s a whole lot different and it’s been an easy transition.”
Broom scored 22 in his comeback match and is now looking forward to game two at Saxton Oval in Nelson, a ground renowned as a batsmens’ paradise.
"If you can get yourself in then I think I can go pretty big," he said.
"It's a wicket that is pretty slow. There's not a lot of real pace in it and it's pretty true so there's not a lot of demons in the wicket. It's a beautiful ground, it's a nice place to play so hopefully I can get some runs."
The BLACKCAPS laid on 341 runs in their first One Day outing of the summer and Broom is hoping they can keep the pressure on Bangladesh.
“Our team is pretty confident at home and has performed well at home so we will take a lot of confidence into this game.”
