By Alex Powell at Hagley Oval
Jacob Duffy has had to be patient for his chance to become a test bowler for the Black Caps.
But on day two of the first test against the West Indies in Christchurch, the 31-year-old was rewarded in full.
As both sides left the field for bad light at 157/6, little did Duffy know he would swing not just the day, but the test in New Zealand’s favour when they returned.
In 16 balls, Duffy took the West Indies’ final four wickets - one caught behind, one caught himself before rattling the stumps of Nos 10 and 11 - to claim his maiden five-wicket haul, 5-34, and secure a 64-run lead.
And as the Black Caps openers added 32-0, a 96-run advantage heading into day three is a tough ask for the West Indies to answer away from home.
Speaking after the day’s play at Hagley Oval, a sheepish Duffy - still not used to being the centre of attention - confessed that his post-tea spell was a shock to even himself.
“It was crazy, eh?” Duffy asked. “To be fair, a few of us had clocked off, not going to lie. We thought that was it for the day.
“But [it was a] great result, those are the niggly times in cricket - more often than not for a batting team.
“To come out and do that from ball one was what we needed, and got us in a good position.”
Duffy’s story, having to wait for the chance to show what he’s capable of at the highest level, is common across this New Zealand side.
Like Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell and Michael Bracewell, his path to the Black Caps was blocked by some of the best to ever wear the silver fern, in New Zealand’s greatest era.
In particular, the careers of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner left Duffy waiting until the age of 31 to debut in test cricket, 13 years after his professional bow for Otago.
And while he has become an indispensable part of the Black Caps’ white ball sides, test cricket was always his goal - even if he was unsure that he’d achieve it.
Now, not only having become a test player, but putting in a performance that could go a long way to New Zealand taking a 1-0 series lead, Duffy doesn’t shy away from his pride at red ball success.
“I’ve said this before, but there was a point in time where I didn’t think I’d be playing any test cricket,” he professed.
“To get five-for and put our team in a comfortable position is pretty huge. Jacob from a few years ago would be pretty chuffed. It’s just a good feeling, isn’t it?
“I’ve always just wanted to play games for my country, red ball games especially. The amount of pride we put into the red ball game, the capping ceremonies - all of it.
“I’ve been on a lot of tours, to see how much it means to all the guys and then to be part of that, add value to that group is a special feeling.”
With depleted bowling stocks, following the retirement of Wagner and injury woes to Kyle Jamieson and Will O’Rourke, Duffy has also adopted a mantra within the Black Caps that should be unfamiliar to many.
While his time with the Black Caps’ white ball sides and Otago have seen Duffy operate as a new ball bowler, Henry and Zak Foulkes have had that honour on their home ground against the West Indies.
Instead, three of Duffy’s five wickets on day two came from shorter-pitched bowling, looking to be hostile against a side on the ropes.
And that’s not necessarily the kind of bowler that Duffy has always been happy to adopt - along with a new moniker to go with it.
“It’s been a bit of a joke,” he explained. “There’s so many guys who can bowl with the new ball. I’m just privileged with the fact the coach views me as an option.
“In days gone by, I might not have played at all if I didn’t have the new ball. To have the option to perform a different role has been awesome.
“We’re taking the piss a little bit, but I’m pushing the ‘enforcer’ nickname just to get a bit of cred behind me.”
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.