You hear elite athletes talking about ''the process'' a lot and frankly it gets a bit boring. So we listened intently when Otago all-rounder Ian Butler decided not to talk about the routines which have been working so well for the province during the last year.
The Volts have not lost a competitive game of twenty20 cricket since November 2, 2012. That is 325 days ago.
The team has won 13 consecutive twenty20 games and shares second place with Surrey for the most wins in a row. Pakistan's Sailkot Stallions are way out in front with a staggering run of 25 consecutive wins and will perhaps hold the record for many years to come.
It is a fickle game, twenty20 cricket. A run of four or five wins is a fabulous achievement.
To reach 13 is quite remarkable, and it is a long time to wear the same pair of lucky undies.
So how has Otago done it? How has it been so consistent for so long?
''We don't want to give anything away,'' Butler responded.
''But we do a lot of simple things well. We're aggressive with the ball and aggressive with the bat.
"I guess Brendon [McCullum] and VJ [Otago coach Vaughn Johnson] instil that no-fear attitude in the guys and that is one difference I've noticed between the team we had here last time [2009] and the team we've got now.
''We certainly don't have any fear about opposition teams or players. We believe we are as good as anyone else.''
Having dispatched the Faisalabad Wolves (Pakistan), Kandurata Maroons (Sri Lanka) and Hyderabad Sunrisers (India) in the qualifying series of the Champions League, Otago will play Indian Premier League champion the Mumbai Indians early tomorrow morning (New Zealand time) in the first of its four group A pool matches.
It is the Volts' biggest challenge yet. You might recognise a few names on the Mumbai team list. There is some bloke called Sachin Tendulkar. He is ably supported by West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard, Australian pace bowler Mitchell Johnson and Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh among others.
Otago is not without star power itself. Brendon McCullum is one of the best twenty20 batsmen in the world. Older brother and off-spinner Nathan McCullum is a proven performer and Dutch international Ryan ten Doeschate is a class act with the bat and a cunning medium pacer.
But players such as James Neesham and Neil Broom are not well known outside New Zealand.
Even Butler, who has played eight tests, 26 one-dayers and 19 international twenty20 games for his country, has probably slipped under the radar.
But if teams have been underestimating the Volts, they won't be now. Otago has been impressive. It restricted the Sunrisers to 143 for five on Saturday morning and cruised to a five-wicket win with Brendon McCullum to the fore. He compiled an unbeaten 67. Nathan McCullum helped set up the victory with some fine bowling, taking two for 23 from his four overs.
Both sides had already qualified for the main draw, so the game was a dead rubber. Butler and fellow pace bowler James McMillan took the opportunity to rest but are expected to be fit for tomorrow's match.
Mumbai lost its opening game and will be eager to avoid a second defeat which could potentially end its title prospects.
''They are like any IPL side - they're stacked. They have plenty of quality players to choose from and whatever side they put out there, they'll be strong,'' Butler said.
Twenty20
Most consecutive wins
25: Sailkot Stallions (Pakistan)
13: Otago (New Zealand)
*13: Surrey (England)
12: Bengal (India)
12: Sydney Sixes (Australia)
11: Free State (South Africa)
*11: Lahore Lions (Pakistan)
*Winning streak is still alive
Champions League
Otago's draw
v Mumbai Indians, tomorrow, 2.20am - SKY Sport 3
v Perth Scorchers, Wednesday, 10.20pm - SKY Sport 1
v Highveld Lions, Sunday,11.20pm - SKY Sport 2
v Rajasthan Royals, October 2, 3.20am - SKY Sport 3
Semifinal 1, October 4, 3.20am - SKY Sport 2
Semifinal 2, October 5, 3.30am - SKY Sport 4
Final, October 6, 3.20am
