Even if he doesn't admit it himself, Will Young has done his chances of a spot for the Blackcaps at this year's Cricket World Cup no harm, after a standout series against Pakistan.
Playing at the top of the order with the likes of Devon Conway and Finn Allen away on Indian Premier League duty, Young finished as the Blackcaps' third-highest run scorer during the 4-1 defeat.
But at a time of huge uncertainty around the Kiwi top order heading into a World Cup, Young's efforts have gone a long way to answering questions for coach Gary Stead and selectors.
In five innings, the 30-year-old scored two half-centuries, making 240 runs at an average of 48.
Only Daryl Mitchell (297 runs at 74.25) and Tom Latham (282 runs at 56.40) scored more for the Blackcaps.
With Kane Williamson likely to miss the World Cup after knee surgery, Mitchell's two centuries have all but locked him in to bat at No.3.
However, Finn Allen's inconsistency in 50 over cricket after displacing Martin Guptill does potentially open a spot for Young to partner Conway in New Zealand's first choice side.
Young, Henry Nicholls and Tom Blundell all stand out as candidates to open the batting in India, with limited spots up for grabs in the squad.
But despite his excellent series with the bat, Young acknowledges his fate is now in the hands of selectors, before the World Cup at the end of the year.
"We'll just have to see," Young said of his World Cup hopes. "There'll be some decisions made by the captain and coaches over the coming months.
"New Zealand Cricket's got a bit of a break for two and a half months. There's plenty of time to deliberate over who may or may not be in that squad.
"For me personally, I'm stoked to get an opportunity to play five ODIs at the top of the order.
"It's something that's new to me, opening the batting in one day cricket, I'm stoked to get the opportunity and put some runs on the board.
"You never know, the World Cup squad will be named in the coming months. We'll just have to wait and see.
"It would be a huge honour to represent your country at a World Cup."
Regardless, Young also points out the significance of the five-game series, even if it did end in defeat.
So far this year, the Blackcaps have now played two ODI series in Pakistan, and one in India, giving vital match practice in Asian conditions - the same as they'll get during the World Cup.
"It's huge," he added. "Experience in the subcontinent doesn't come around too often for New Zealanders.
"[For] the group downstairs, to have five games here against quality opposition, is invaluable.
"At the back of our minds, the World Cup's coming around the corner pretty fast.
"It's great to get five quality games in against such quality opposition."
