Record books show he's New Zealand's greatest ever one-day batsman, but COVID-19 could deny Ross Taylor the chance to end his career the way he intended.
The veteran right-hander had indicated he wanted to play through to the next Cricket World Cup in 2023.
But the pandemic has forced Taylor, 36, to reassess his plans and his fairytale finish could remain just that.
Checking in for his 16th season of international cricket, Taylor's been a consistent performer in the black shirt for more than a decade, but admits he's up against it if he's to end his career after the next World Cup.
"2023 was going to be a stretch, I think, at the best of times," he says. "Now the World Cup's been dragged out to October/November 2023, that’s another six or seven months to hang around."
The Blackcaps will certainly hope he does though - Taylor holds the records for most runs and centuries for New Zealand in ODIs.
"That one-day World Cup is definitely on the radar, might have to trim things back leading into that,” he says. "It doesn't mean I will make it, but that's definitely one of my goals."
His immediate goal is breaking the Blackcaps out of their T20 slump. They're on a seven-game losing streak heading into Friday's showdown with the West Indies.
"India, I think, was 5-0, but the series was a lot closer than that," he reflects. "We had a couple of losses in the 'super over'... the old dreaded super over."
And the reigning T20 world champions have arrived in Auckland, planning to inflict more pain on the hosts..
"Hopefully, we can allow them to lose another three," chuckles West Indies wicketkeeper Andre Fletcher.
While the Windies are ranked ninth in the world, they're the only team to have won the T20 World Cup twice and preparing for their title defence in India next year starts at Eden Park this week.
"I guess all teams playing now, that's what they're getting their minds up for, so hopefully we can start well," says Fletcher.
"The World Cup does look a long way away," says Taylor. "But I'm sure, just like last year, we’re building towards that and getting our different combinations and giving some guys experience who haven't played at the international level before."
Whether Taylor makes it through to the one-day World Cup in three years remains to be seen.
Join us at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Blackcaps v West Indies T20
