Trent Boult more than made up for lost time on his return to one-day international cricket and Blackcaps coach Gary Stead couldn't be happier.
Boult, 34, ended a 300-day wait to represent his country, after falling foul of NZ Cricket's selection policy by handing back his central contract in mid-2022.
After a diet consisting of entirely Twenty20 cricket for most of the past year, his class showed, even as New Zealand slumped to a 79-run defeat to England.
In a rain-shortened affair at Southampton's Ageas Bowl, Boult took 3/37 from seven overs with the ball, and left England's top order in tatters at 28/4.
Only a Liam Livingstone barrage (95 not out off 78 balls) spared the hosts' blushes, with the victory squaring the four-game series at 1-1.
Regardless of the defeat, Boult's return was the positive NZ Cricket needed on the day it named the Blackcaps squad to head to the World Cup in India next month.
While they have filled his shoes in all formats during his exodus, the veteran is far and away the best bowler New Zealand have in white-ball cricket.
Sunday's defeat was also Boult's 100th ODI, snaring 190 wickets at an average of 23.79. Only Australian Mitchell Starc (196) has taken more wickets than Boult in his first 100 games.
Coach Gary Stead has always maintained Boult had a place in his plans, even if his selection was seemingly blocked by his obligations as a freelance cricketer elsewhere.
Now well and truly in Blackcaps ranks again, Boult's importance is obvious.
"He stepped back in like he'd never been away," Stead said. "That was very, very pleasing.
"He's obviously a real weapon for us, with that new ball in particular.
"Being a shortened game, we had to manage the overs out - he only bowled four in that first spell, but he certainly made an impact in those initial overs. It was very, very pleasing to see."
As expected, Boult has been included in the squad for India, joining longtime partner-in-crime Tim Southee, as well as Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson as specialist seam bowlers in the 15-man group.
