After just 10 one-dayers since the start of 2020, the Blackcaps' white-ball European tour has Martin Guptill relishing the chance to play in his favoured format once again.
Since the heartbreak of losing the 2019 Cricket World Cup final to England, 50-over cricket has been sparse for the NZ men, playing in just four series in the past three years.
Series wins over India, Bangladesh and the Netherlands at home, and a one-off defeat as part of a COVID-cancelled series away to Australia are all the Blackcaps have had to savour in the format over the last few years.
In that same time, the Blackcaps have played 24 tests and 41 T20 fixtures.
But upcoming matches against Ireland and Scotland will be vital in preparing for the 2023 World Cup in India.
As a key cog in New Zealand's white-ball plans, Guptill, 35, looks forward to returning to the format where he's had the most success, standing tall among the best to over play ODI cricket for the Blackcaps.
And with that World Cup now just over a year away, they will be after as much match practice as they can get in their bid to bounce back from final defeats in 2015 and 2019.
"It's been pretty slim picking with the one-day stuff over the last couple of years," Guptill said. "We've only played [ten] since the last World Cup, so to be able to have a diet - in the next few weeks - of one-day cricket is going to be pretty exciting.
"I love it. It's probably my favourite format of the three, so to be able to get back out and represent New Zealand again in one-day cricket is going to be fantastic.
"Only playing two formats now, so white-ball is always on my radar to make sure that I'm doing what I can to be picked for each and every series."
The series against Ireland will also be the Blackcaps' first since the retirement of Ross Taylor, who ended his career during the last home summer. In his place come the uncapped pair of Glenn Phillips and Finn Allen.
Both have shown their wares for the Blackcaps in T20 cricket and in various leagues around the world, but the chance to bring their blockbusting style to the 50-over game has Guptill excited to see what they can do.
"We've got some exciting young talent in this squad, taking over from other people that have [retired]," he added. "Ross Taylor's been here for a number of years now and someone's stepping into some fairly big shoes to fill in that No.4 spot.
"I've played a wee bit of cricket with both of them at Auckland.
"Finn made the move to Wellington a couple of years ago and is proving what he can do out in the middle, and is pretty destructive.
"We all know what Glenn can do - in the field, bowling and with the bat as well. He's a pretty entertaining cricketer."
The Blackcaps play three ODIs and three T20s against Ireland, one ODI and two T20s against Scotland, and three T20s against the Netherlands on their European tour.
New Zealand's tour of Ireland begins on July 10 at Malahide.
