Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum has thrilled, delighted and entertained with his dazzling array of skills.
He has also frustrated and disappointed but, even in failure, he has always inspired.
Most of his efforts have been on the international stage and he will lead the Black Caps into action tomorrow at the University Oval in Dunedin in the first test against the West Indies.
But McCullum returned to his roots on Saturday, turning out for his club side, Albion, in a match with Taieri at Brooklands Park in Mosgiel.
Why?
''Why not?'' he responded .
''If it is good enough for Richie, it is good enough for me,'' he added, referring to All Black captain Richie McCaw's appearance for Canterbury club side Christchurch earlier this year.
McCullum, who went to King's High School and grew up in St Kilda, thought it had been about 10 years since he last played for Albion and he wanted to give something back to the club.
It certainly was no ordinary Saturday at Brooklands. Regular spectators had to park a little further down the road than usual. A local camera crew was present.
The Black Caps coach, Mike Hesson, was watching from the pavilion and sitting next to Brendon's father Stu, who played 75 first-class games for Otago from 1976-91.
There were also several groups of boys milling about and looking over at the New Zealand captain while he stretched his troublesome back muscles and waited to bat.
Eventually, some of those boys plucked up the courage and nervously made their way over with bats, and pads and anything McCullum could scribble an autograph on.
He obliged, of course. McCullum was in a chirpy and nostalgic mood and perhaps even a touch nervous.
''We'll see how it goes,'' the 32-year-old said, suggesting he could go out first ball.
He worked his first delivery off his hip for a single but was dismissed for eight when he tried to leave a ball from New Zealand under-19 and Taieri seamer Jack Hunter but played on.
