"I probably had the tag of someone who has potential and never fulfilled it and I've only done that in the past two years so thanks to him [his first Dutch captain, Jeroen Smits] for his guidance because I'm indebted to him for my cricket career," the right-hand allrounder says.
Borren, a former New Zealand Under-19 representative, feels he needed to grow up a little and he found that stability in The Netherlands where he is based with his partner in Amsterdam.
The Christchurch-born player left for the Netherlands in 2002 as an 18-year-old before becoming the Dutch international team skipper four years later.
His father Pim Borren, lives in Brisbane, while mother Jane is in Christchurch.
Borren, who plays for VRA Amsterdam, played against fellow CD player Greg Todd, of Hermes club, there this year.
"It's a two and a-half month break there so I thought I'd rather play in the sunshine here rather than train indoors in the cold winter there," he says.
An aggressive batsman, Borren has an open mind on what CD coach Alan Hunt and captain Jamie How's expectations are of him although he is psyched up for a middle-order portfolio requiring a 100 per cent strike rate to thrill.
"My medium pacers are just to mix the pace up so I'll look to be an option for Jamie," he says, indebted to CD for the opportunity to play here and looking forward to repay that favour by helping them to win games.
Coach Hunt contacted Borren to play after a Chapple Cup game in Napier.
"He's one of the guys around who has played against some of the best players in the world," Hunt says.
"It allows us then to be flexible on where he is at," he says of a player who can produce unorthodox shots.
While batting at No 6 or No 7 means he should theoretically expect to ask for middle and leg with 10 overs to go before heaving away, Borren is equally adept at consolidating should the need arise. "I've been in that situation many times so if it demands that then I'm quite comfortable doing that, too."
He played tennis until he was 12 years old but gravitated towards cricket because his mates were playing it and relishing the joys of team sport over individual ones.
Despite playing for New Zealand under-19s in the World Cup, Borren doesn't dwell on the what-ifs.
"I moved to Holland to play cricket and fell in love with the place.
"I really enjoy the lifestyle there and met some very good people and built a good life there," he says, harbouring no regrets.
An associate cricketing nation, Borren says the Netherlands isn't anywhere near playing test cricket.
Having made a few World Cups, Holland is just beginning to find some roots through professionalism.
"There are six fulltime contracted players now but we're looking at getting a whole squad," he says of a nation whose team play in the English domestic one-day competition.
Football has a slight edge over hockey as a national sport in the participation stakes list.
"The success of the Dutch team can maybe encourage more youngsters to get into the game and enjoy it."
While former Dutch captain Smits was a disciplinarian, he also had the knack of bringing out latent talent.
"I actually realised it wasn't too late even though I was 25, 26 and I had some time to work on my game to become a better player," says Borren whose has a one-year contract with Holland.
While unsure where he will be once that expires, Borren sees settling in New Zealand as an option.
"To get an opportunity to play here for CD is a really good one. I hope I can make an impact so it opens a few doors for me in cricket."
However, helping the Netherlands qualify for the next World Cup is his primary focus.
With three World Cups (two one-dayers and a T20) to his credit, he counts his blessings.
"I have Dutch heritage so I guess I'm very lucky to have those opportunities to travel to different countries and meet some awesome people," says a man who has played against some top cricketers in the world.
"I absolutely love cricket. Some cricketers play good cricket but don't actually enjoy it. I absolutely love it."
He rates India opening batsman Virender Sehwag the most difficult customer on the crease.
"He's got a few runs off me but I'm pretty medium military pace so he's smashed blowers far better than me."
Facing fast bowlers as a batsman on international wickets, Borren reckons, is not as challenging as playing at club level on poor wickets.
He finds the CD constitution easy to adapt to as the new kid on the block and the coaching staff pivotal in helping him find a niche.
"The CD blokes are a good bunch. I'm a new face but I feel very welcomed so it's fantastic."
