Blackcaps batter Ross Taylor will make the most of valuable match practice before his international cricketing swansong, named as part of the New Zealand XI to face the Netherlands in warm-up matches before this month's one-day series.
After 15 years, Taylor, 38, will retire from international cricket at the end of New Zealand's home summer.
And after waving goodbye to test cricket with a rare wicket against Bangladesh in January, Taylor will have three one-day internationals and a T20 International against the touring Netherlands side as a final farewell.
Currently isolating at home as a household contact of a COVID-19 case, Taylor has missed out on another domestic hitout as practice, sitting out of Central Districts' Plunket Shield encounter against Northern Districts.
But that only makes the warm-up matches more important, with Taylor hoping for some form, before his final outings as a Blackcap.
"Obviously, as you get older, you want to try and still stay in a bit of rhythm," Taylor says. "Nothing beats a bit of game fitness.
"It would have been nice to have played the four-dayer, [but] to have played some white-ball cricket with a higher intensity is ideal preparation.
"You don't often play warm-up games, like you did at the start of my career a lot. Now they're very few and far between.
"It's a great opportunity to see the Netherlands side up close and obviously there's a few Kiwi connections to them as well. It should be great preparation."
Taylor also isn't expecting the same sort of scenes that accompanied his farewell to test cricket - taking the last wicket to fall in New Zealand's series-squaring victory over Bangladesh.
In fact, after so many years as a professional, Taylor is looking forward to what's to come once his playing days are over.
"I'm not expecting to have a bowl," he jokes. "I suppose it's emotional, when you've done something for so long.
"Just playing on your home ground in front of family and friends, all would have emotional attachments to that. I'm excited for the next chapter, but also excited to play my last series."
Taylor won't be the only familiar face among the New Zealand XI either. Former test wicketkeeper BJ Watling will co-coach the side, along with ex-test spinner Paul Wiseman.
After retiring in June 2021, Watling has moved into coaching in the Northern Districts set-up, taking charge of their 'A' team during the current summer.
But should Watling eye higher honours, Taylor backs his former teammate to succeed and take his coaching as far as he wants.
"I've worked with him since he's finished cricket, obviously, living in Hamilton and him having taken over the role as batting coach for the ND side.
"Standing next to him at slip, he's got a very good cricket brain. I'm sure whatever avenue he wants to pursue, which I think he does, I think he'll be a fantastic coach - not only for ND, but I'm sure for New Zealand in the years to come."
New Zealand XI: Michael Bracewell (c), Matt Bacon, Matt Boyle, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, James Hartshorn, Mitch Hay, Jayden Lennox, Angus McKenzie, Josh McKenzie, Tim Pringle, Ben Sears, Jesse Tashkoff, Ross Taylor
Join us on March 25 for live updates of the Blackcaps v Netherlands T20 match
