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Ali Forsyth has been given a new role in next month's World Bowls at Adelaide.
Forsyth (32) was the singles player in the Black Jacks team for six years after winning the world champion of champions singles title in 2004.
He won the singles bronze medal and was a key member of the Black Jacks men's team that won the Leonard Trophy, the overall team event, at World Bowls at Christchurch in 2008.
This year he is skipping the triples and is third in the four for skip Richard Girvan.
"We are certainly looking for medals in both disciplines at Adelaide and the ultimate goal is gold in both," he told said yesterday. "We'd also like to retain the Leonard Trophy."
Forsyth proved that he can be successful in the team game when he finished runner-up in the pairs and skipped the winning four at the national championships at Dunedin two years ago.
"It wasn't my decision to leave the singles," Forsyth said. "The selectors decided that Shannon [McIlroy] was playing better. But as long as I get a start I don't mind where I play.
"I still enjoy playing singles but I don't play as much of it now."
Forsyth has a good understanding with Girvan and has played a lot with Matt Gallop, who is in the middle of the triples.
He has lived in Sydney since 2007 and is a semi-professional bowler and barman at the Taren Point Bowling Club.
"The competition is hot," he said. "The 16 zones in New South Wales are all strong."
Being domiciled in Sydney has been instrumental in keeping Forsyth in the Black Jacks for the last five years.
Greens are open 12 months of the year and he is able to develop consistency in his game.
In New Zealand, the outdoor greens are closed from May until September.
"It's a big layoff," Forsyth said. "It can be detrimental when you get back into international bowls in September when you haven't had the grounding in the winter.
"There are moneyed tournaments and this attracts good players all the time." Forsyth made a splash on the New Zealand bowls scene when he won back-to-back singles titles in 2002 and 2003.
The advantage for the three Black Jack players who are based in Sydney is that they are able to adjust easily to the Adelaide greens.
"It is just a matter of getting used to the wind because Adelaide is a very windy place," he said. "It shouldn't be too hard for the New Zealand-based players to adapt to the speed of the greens."
Forsyth enjoys playing in the Speight's Invitation singles on the North East Valley greens.
"It is the best invitation tournament in New Zealand.
You can tell this by the quality of the field they attract. It's a privilege to be part of this tournament."
Ali Forsyth
At a glance
Age: 32.
Residence: Sydney.
Domestic record: NZ singles champion 2002-03, NZ fours champion 2011.
International: World champion of champion singles champion (2004); Asia and Pacific singles champion (2007, 2009); Bronze at World Bowls (2008); Six Nations fours champion (2012).