Will Somerville was in tears at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) car park in 2014, when the enormity of his most significant cricketing achievement yet hit home.
On that occasion it was an upgrade to a state contract after playing three games with New South Wales (NSW), which meant the Sydney-based chartered accountant officially had a new profession.
Now, the 35-year-old off-spinner is poised to mark a remarkable 'homecoming' at the same ground after a series of life-changing trips across the Tasman.
Somerville has replaced injured spearhead Trent Boult in New Zealand's test squad and is expected to be called up for the series finale that starts on Friday.
The dual citizen, who was born in Wellington and studied in New Zealand but has lived in Sydney for the majority of his life, knows the ground well after being on NSW's books for four seasons.
Somerville, realising his opportunities were likely to be limited behind Nathan Lyon and Steve O'Keefe, shifted back to NewZealand in 2018 and enjoyed a productive test debut later that year.
The Blackcaps are currently weighing up whether to play two spinners in Sydney but even if that doesn't transpire, Somerville is considered likely to take Mitchell Santner's place in their XI.
"It's pretty special to be back where my kids were born. My mother and father in law live down the road in Coogee and the kids are staying there for the week," Somerville told reporters.
"I'm pinching myself that I'm here.
"I played one first-class game [in 2017-18] for NSW and I was 33 and thought 'why don't I try and play more cricket?'.
"I played two games for Auckland then I was in Abu Dhabi [for a test debut]. It happened quickly, faster than I expected."
Somerville briefly entertained the idea of moving to another Australian state when pursuing further opportunities in 2018.
However, the tall tweaker insisted he was always desperate to represent New Zealand rather than Australia.
"I was very proud to receive my baggy blue, that was a dream in itself and something I'm proud of," he said.
"I always wanted to play for New Zealand as well - in the back of my mind growing up in Wellington - and I've always been an All Blacks fan."
AAP
Join us for live updates of the third test between the Blackcaps and Australia, starting January 3
