The Otago top-order batsman could do no wrong last summer.
He scored runs — and lots of them — in all three formats.
In a career with plenty of highs, Broom appeared to have reached a new level.
He was in phenomenal form in the one-day competition, scoring 508 runs at an average of 84.66, including three hundreds and was the competition’s leading scorer.
He was just as effective in twenty20 (299 runs at 37.37) and first-class cricket (633 runs at 52.75).
But that form deserted the 32-year-old when he arrived in Derbyshire.
Broom had signed a two-year contract with the county side and, while he enjoyed his first season, the runs dried up.
In 14 first-class games for Derbyshire, Broom scored 530 at an average of 25.23, well below his career average of 38.72. In 12 T20 games, he managed 232 at 21.09 but did have some joy in the one-day competition, posting 177 runs in six games at an average of 59.
"It was a great experience and something I’ve always wanted to do," Broom said when asked how it went.
"But the team struggled a wee bit and I did personally as well, so it was a little bit tough in that respect. But I’m going back next year so, hopefully, after that first season I can start performing a wee bit better."
Who knows why his touch suddenly left without saying goodbye?
Certainly everything was different.
The Duke ball swings for longer and pitches tended to be on the slow side.
But Broom believed he should have been able to adjust. He felt his form was beginning to return mid-season before it dropped off again.
"I put a wee bit too much pressure on myself at the start and you get into a bit of a rut and it is tough to get out of."
Away from the cricket, there were a few pressures as well.
Broom’s wife, Melissa, was expecting the couple’s third child.
Zac arrived five weeks ago while the family was still in the United Kingdom.
Zac’s older brother, Connor (5), started school over there and his other brother, Luie, is 3.
Melissa also got sick towards the end of Broom’s stint with Derbyshire and the family was happy to return home to Dunedin.
Broom began his career with Canterbury and returned to the province two years ago for a season in the red and black.
But he is an "Otago boy now" and has fashioned an impressive record.
He has amassed 84 first-class games for Otago — the sixth-most appearances by an Otago player — and scored 5250 runs at an average of 42.68.
Only two players have scored more runs for Otago and they could play a bit.
Craig Cumming tops the list with 6589 runs, while the incomparable Bert Sutcliffe is next with 6028 runs.
If Broom has two more good seasons, he could find himself at the top of the pile which would cap a wonderful career.
In the meantime, he has a new role in the team. Having signed with Derbyshire as a local player, he is now considered an import in the New Zealand domestic competition.
In the past, Otago has been well-served by overseas players with the likes of Jonathan Trott and Ryan ten Doescharte making a big impact.
But nothing has changed for Broom. The goal is still to win the trophy which has eluded the province for 28 years.
"The main goal is to win the Plunket Shield ... and personally just to back up that disappointing county season with a good big season — get back on track and start scoring runs again."
Broom helped Canterbury win the Plunket Shield two summers ago but "obviously it would be pretty special to win one here after trying for so many years".
Otago’s first-class campaign gets under way against Central Districts in Nelson tomorrow.
● Derbyshire yesterday confirmed former New Zealand opener and coach John Wright would be the side’s specialist T20 coach next season.
