When the Blackcaps test series against Pakistan kicks off in Karachi on Monday evening (NZ time), so too will a new era in NZ cricket.
Veteran Tim Southee will take the reins as captain, leading the Blackcaps in the game's most prestigious format for the first time in place of Kane Williamson, who earlier this month decided to step down from the role.
While he's led New Zealand in the white-ball formats - 22 one-day internationals and one Twenty20 international, to be precise - he's yet to take the helm in the test arena.
But the 88-test seamer dismissed any suggestion there'd be an extra weight of pressure on his shoulders entering into the match.
"No more [pressure] than normal," said Southee.
"There's always pressure when you're representing your country, but it's something I'm looking forward to and it's a real honour to captain the test team."
Both New Zealand and Pakistan will be desperate to get back into the winners circle, with each side riding a four-match losing streak into the series.
But Pakistan's wounds are much fresher, having suffered a heavily one-sided 3-0 sweep on home soil at the hands of resurgent England - employing their patented new 'Bazball' aggression - in a series which ended just last week.
For as successful as that formula was for the English, Southee insisted the Blackcaps would be very much adhering to their own formula in their first test in Pakistan since 2003, rather than try to emulate England coach Brendon McCullum's swashbuckling approach.
"We will be trying to look for ways that have worked for us as a side, and hopefully we can put on a performance that works for our side," said Southee.
"I think England played some pretty special cricket in this series. Pakistan is a very good side, as they have shown for a long time, especially in these conditions. We're looking forward to the challenge.
"It's a new series, and I’m sure Pakistan would be looking to bounce back after a tough series against England."
New Zealand have only won one test series in Pakistan - way back in 1969 - but have dominated Pakistan in recent contests, winning their last three series against them - twice in New Zealand (2016 and 2020) and once in the UAE in 2018.
A trip to the subcontinent has typically been an opportunity for spinners to thrive, and New Zealand's duo of Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi should have ample chances to shine on the Karachi deck, after being surplus to requirements on Aotearoa's greener tops.
But as Southee points out, England had plenty of success with their seam attack and he and his fellow quicks are eager to similarly exploit those conditions.
"I think when you come to this part of the world, you tend to think that spinners will have more of an impact than seam, but as England showed, there's still place for the pace bowlers,” he said.
"Ajaz has been around the test group for a while. It's tough for him to find a place in the side, considering the conditions we normally play in, but he's been a real treat for us when we've come to this part of the world. So, he'll be looking forward to getting back to playing test cricket and playing in these conditions, which he's done well, and it's a great opportunity for Ish Sodhi to come back.
"I'm excited to see what he's going to bring to the side."
The second and final test of the series - orginally scheduled for a January 3 start in Multan - has been moved to Karachi and will start a day earlier due to concerns over poor weather conditions, namely severe fog and smog.
