The 27-year-old arrived in Dunedin on Friday keen to make a positive impression during a twenty/20 trial match at the University Oval No 2 ground yesterday. He did just that, shaking off some scratchy performances in the nets to whack 41 from 30 and combine in a useful partnership of 66 with Volts captain Craig Cumming.
While it was not enough to secure victory for the Cumming XI - which reached 138 for nine in reply to the Redmond XI's 188 for six - it was the sort of innings which bodes well for the future.
"I was just good to get out there and bat with the skipper because I think we'll be batting fairly close together in the order," Nash explained.
Cumming and Nash are likely to bat in the middle order - roles which are relatively new to the pair. They are both specialist openers in longer forms of the game but have had to adapt their game.
"With the bat, if I'm coming in at the end, I want to finish games off. I've done it quite a lot with Sussex - we've needed 30 or 40 off two or three overs and I've finished the game with a bang.
"I'm no Ross Taylor in terms of hitting strength. But I think I have a lot of boundary options and I've work really hard, since dropping down the order, to have those options."
In 49 twenty/20 matches, Nash has scored 834 runs at 22.54. A relatively modest record but he averages closer to 40 in first-class cricket and looked a class act during the trial.
His strongest suit, though, may well turn out to be his bowling.
An offspinner, Nash took 13 wickets at 17.39 for Sussex this year and managed to concede fewer than seven runs an over.
He struck with his third delivery yesterday - dismissing Hamish Rutherford for a hard-hit 33 off 24 balls - but had figures of one for eight off two overs ruined when countryman Darren Stevens and Neil Broom smashed his third over for 18 runs.
"I love bowling at key times, whether that's at the top or in the middle. I can bowl anywhere; I really enjoy it," he enthused.
"I like to be involved in the game at all times. In the field, I'm pretty vocal and I love getting in the mix and in the key fielding positions."
Nash played alongside Brendon McCullum at Sussex this year and the Otago and New Zealand opener spoke highly of the all-rounder.
McCullum's endorsement helped seal a spot for Nash, who said he was "chuffed to bits" to be playing in the HRV Cup.
"It is a big competition when you look at the overseas players who are coming here to play. I feel really privileged to be part of it. The next step is to make sure we win it.
"For me, the pinnacle is still test cricket. I love four-day cricket and want to play test cricket for England more than anything in the world. But the opportunity to play twenty/20 here is a wonderful opportunity for my career.
"I've been lucky enough to be part of a side where we have had a lot of success, winning 12 trophies in 10 years or something along those lines. I like winning, I'm competitive and I've only really come out to win. Whatever I can do to help us win is what it is all about."
