With Jesse Ryder injured, all-rounder Jacob Oram retired from test cricket and James Franklin ruled out late with a knee injury, there were spots open in the Black Caps squad for the first test against Pakistan, starting at the University Oval tomorrow.
But the Cantabrian thought he had slipped off the radar when he was overlooked for the New Zealand Invitation team last week.
So while fellow test prospects Grant Elliott and Craig Cumming were trying to force their way into the top order by battling the Pakistan attack in the three-day warm-up match in Queenstown, Fulton was in Rangiora dispatching the Otago attack.
The 30-year-old helped set up a 115-run win with a massive knock of 172 in the first innings and backed up with 77 in his second dig.
That effort, and some solid work over the summer, captured the selectors' attention and the lanky right-hander was named in the squad for the first two tests against Pakistan.
"Obviously, the two scores I got forced the selectors' hands a little bit," Fulton said.
"It was a nice surprise to get."
Fulton made his mark on the domestic scene when he scored an undefeated triple century against Auckland in March, 2003.
Remarkably, it was his maiden first-class ton and he quickly established himself as one of the country's premier batsmen at domestic level.
He made his test debut against the West Indies in March, 2006 and in eight tests has scored 272 runs at an average of 24.72.
It is a very modest return for a player who has promised much more but struggled to deliver at international level.
In first-class cricket, Fulton averages a shade over 45.
It is a record that compares favourably with the rest of the New Zealand top order.
But when the runs did not come in test cricket, Fulton appeared to lose confidence and so did the selectors.
He last played a test a year ago and missed out on a national contract earlier in the year.
But he has got through the winter well and made a cracking start to the summer.
"[Missing out on a contract] just gave me a bit of time to reassess where I was at and where I wanted to go.
This is certainly a step in the right direction."
Fulton impressed for New Zealand A and the New Zealand Emerging side during the winter, and said the selectors had been positive about his prospects of making it back into the test team.
"I had to get my head around making some bigger scores. Last year, in the domestic season, I made a lot of 60s and 70s and then got myself out.
"At that end of the day if you can put to-gether big scores and make big 100s then you are always going to be at the forefront of the selectors' minds."
Fulton has been shunted around the order a bit.
He has had a shot at opening and also slotted in at No 5 and well as first drop.
In an ideal world he would prefer to bat at No 3 but that position will be occupied by Northern Districts left-hander Daniel Flynn.
With the Black Caps opting for six specialist batsmen, Fulton will probably bat at No 5, with Elliott coming in at No 6.
