OPINION: I remember Martin Guptill's Blackcaps debut fondly - it was one of my favourite days at Eden Park.
A stormy Saturday in January 2009 - a detail etched in my mind, because my Dad was able to get off work on the weekend, which was a rare occurrence, but the tickets were a Christmas present, so I suppose he felt obliged to come along.
We listened to the radio on the way and this newcomer 'Martin Guptill' was a hot topic of talkback conversation. To be honest, I'd never heard of him.
But after discovering he was a fellow native West Aucklander, of course, we instantly wanted him to succeed.
New Zealand batted first that day and we were very quickly basking in that success.
Guptill absolutely walloped the West Indies bowlers all over the Garden of Eden. He only - and I say that with all respect - hit two sixes that day on his way to a mesmerising unbeaten 122 - the first of 18 to follow over the next 13 years.
I couldn't wait to see how he'd back that performance up in the field. Apparently, he was missing some toes, but was still absolutely dynamite.
Then it rained. The match was called off in the 11th over of the Windies chase, and the old man and I were left to imagine what this next generation were capable of, while munching on hot chips.
To put it lightly, it had been a tough few years of supporting the Blackcaps, filled with a lot of heartbreak. I struggled to gain much enjoyment watching them toil through constant bouts of inconsistency.
But Martin Guptill brought that joy back, as he would for future generations and I hope he can continue to do so for a bit longer yet.
From what I understand, the decision to forgo his NZ Cricket central contract wasn't Guptill's preference.
The lure of a 200th one-day international appearance for New Zealand was a massive goal, one he sits agonisingly two games shy of.
Don't get me wrong, it's not like he'd be in sensational form. The dropping from the one-day and T20 squads was absolutely justifiable.
But Guptill, 36, feels backed into a corner and let down by NZC. He loves playing for New Zealand, wearing the 'black cap' and giving back to young Kiwis. This shouldn't and hopefully won't be how it ends.
Don't be surprised if Guptill isn't the last NZ cricketer to make this decision. We said the same when Trent Boult made his call to eschew his central contract in August, while Colin de Grandhomme chose to retire from internationals, so he could take up opportunities elsewhere.
What also doesn't help - sorry, Blackcaps fans - is that we're now heading towards the end of a golden generation.
Captain Kane Williamson will be 33 years old after next year's World Cup, Tim Southee turns 34 next month and Boult's made his intentions clear. Who knows what'll happen with Guptill.
The most concerning aspect is the lack of genuine young stars coming through to take their place. No-one under the age of 25 is really banging down the door to be selected... at least, for now.
Ben Sears bowls gas, which is obviously exciting, but with express pace comes injuries and he's apparently already managing a back problem.
Yes, opener Finn Allen hits a big ball, but he's shown a serious vulnerability to left-arm swing bowling - there are several top exponents on the international stage - as well as an inability to switch between blazing the ball and rotating strike.
A lot of this next crop of players are mid to late 20s or older - the likes of Michael Bracewell and Blair Tickner.
Even those doing well at domestic level, such as Robbie O’Donnell, Cole McConchie and Jacob Duffy, aren't exactly spring chickens.
That’s not to say the lack of youngsters is a bad thing, but longevity from the likes of Williamson, Boult, Southee and Guptill has come off the back of them debuting so young.
I hope something changes, I really do, but for now, I'm not holding out hope for another tall, skinny, ginger, Westy turning up and captivating the world.
Alex Chapman is a Newshub sports reporter. Join us at 2:30pm Friday for live updates of the Blackcaps v India one-day international
