Even after his historic 10-wicket haul in the Blackcaps' defeat to India at Mumbai, spinner Ajaz Patel concedes he might struggle to hold onto his place in the team for their next series.
Over the first two days of the second test between New Zealand and India, played at Wankhede Stadium, Patel, 33, became just the third player in cricket history to take all 10 opposition wickets in an innings.
The left-arm spinner finished with 10/119 in India's first dig and then took another four in the second to return match figures of 14/225, overtaking Sir Ian Botham for the best bowling performance against India.
But even with historic success under his belt, Patel is by no means guaranteed a role in the Blackcaps test side, when they begin their home summer against Bangladesh at Mt Maunganui on January 1.
With the Blackcaps' recent test success largely built on the pace attack of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson and Colin de Grandhomme, spin has been an afterthought in New Zealand conditions.
In fact, Patel has played just three tests on home soil and is yet to take a wicket, compared to 43 in his 11 away tests.
With the Blackcaps' seam-heavy tactics unlikely to change, Patel is content that his summer might be limited to running the drinks as 12th man.
"To be honest, we all know what the New Zealand conditions are like and what cricket means in New Zealand conditions," Patel says.
"We know how good our seamers are at home - once they get the ball in their hand in conditions that favour them, it's hard to get the ball off them.
"I'm not looking too far ahead. For me, it's about enjoying the game and continuing to improve.
"If I had the opportunity, I would absolutely love it. To be able to play more cricket at home in New Zealand would be amazing.
"I still feel like I can contribute and I feel like, if given the opportunity, I'd be putting my best foot forward, whatever that looks like."
Daniel Vettori aside, New Zealand spinners have rarely prospered in Aotearoa.
Since Vettori's retirement in 2015, the likes of Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, Jeetan Patel, Mitchell Santner and Patel himself have all been tried as test spin options, but none have cemented themselves as a permanent option.
Now as New Zealand's clear first-choice test spinner, Patel is happy to wait and adapt to whatever duty is needed of him, when that chance comes.
"It's a different role in New Zealand, for sure, as a spinner," he adds. "When you're playing international cricket, it's all about filling your role.
"Obviously in the subcontinent, it means you need to take a step forward and really own that role, but in New Zealand, sometimes taking a step back, fulfilling the requirement for the team.
"It just depends what the role is really and how selectors see your role fitting into that squad."
Even as first choice test spinner, Patel was still missing when NZ Cricket named its central contracts list for 2021/22.
As a red-ball specialist, Patel was overlooked in favour of other players, with the Twenty20 World Cups in the UAE in 2021 and Australia in 2022 taking up most of the planning for the coming season.
Although he doesn't have the security of a contract to fall back on, Patel insists he plays for the love of the game, rather than any financial windfall that comes his way.
"Every cricketer wants a New Zealand contract, but at the same time, it's not really in our power or in our hands. It's something for the administration to really take care of.
"Obviously, I'd love to have a New Zealand contract, but at the moment, I don't - but that's OK.
"At least I get the opportunity to play international cricket and that's where my passion lies, playing cricket for New Zealand. As many opportunities as I can get to be able to do that is very special to me.
"Every time I put on that New Zealand jersey, it's a lot of pride, and something that I take a lot of honour in doing and [am] very humbled to do whenever I get the opportunity.
"Those are all bi-products, to be fair. For me, it's about the joy of playing cricket and enjoying it.
"Obviously the money is good, but at the same time, that's not really what drives me to play cricket.
"For me, it's all about the enjoyment and passion for the game. I've always said, whenever that passion dies out, I'll retire immediately.
"As long as I'm enjoying the game, that's the most important thing. I don't really look too far into the other stuff - the other stuff can kind of take care of itself, as long as you're performing and doing the right stuff.
"Hopefully, the contract's around the corner."
