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After captivating his teammates, tormenting the opposition and silencing his critics, Jesse Ryder now has even more to play for as New Zealand seek to seal their one-day cricket series with England at Eden Park tonight.
Ryder's introduction to the international arena through the Twenty20 and limited overs format might well take another step up following the retirement of Scott Styris from test cricket and the impending departure of Stephen Fleming.
The former captain's announcement yesterday that the third test in Napier from March 22 will be his last, opens up the possibility of Ryder also experiencing test cricket sooner than many expected.
Fleming's retirement and Styris's decision to focus on the shorter versions of the game have prompted calls for Ryder and Ross Taylor to both feature in the first test against England in Hamilton on March 5.
Former captain Martin Crowe has advocated Ryder debut at No 5 in place of perennial discard Mathew Sinclair while Taylor - dropped after an unsuccessful two-test experience in South Africa in November - bat at four.
Fleming would revert to three, squeezing out a struggling Peter Fulton.
"If he holds his form in the remaining games in the one-day series, then give him a chance," Crowe said.
New Zealand Cricket selector Glenn Turner told Radio Sport the 23-year-old could "potentially" feature when the test squad is announced shortly after the fifth and final one-day international in Christchurch on February 23.
Ryder's statistics from the State Championship present a far more compelling case than his domestic one-day form, with the hard hitting left hander averaging 42.79 after 39 first class matches - numbers that didn't escape Turner's notice.
"His stats are better in the longer form of the game and he has shown he bat for long periods of time. Even when he restricts himself he can still score at a decent clip."
Turner and fellow-selectors Sir Richard Hadlee, Dion Nash and coach John Bracewell rolled the dice when first choosing the hard hitting left hander to face the English - particularly given he had averaged just 13.2 in the domestic one-day competition.
The Wellingtonian has already gone some distance to justifying faith with 31 on debut and a spanking unbeaten 79 off 62 balls as New Zealand monstered England by 10 wickets in Hamilton.
"I suppose the word `punt' is fairly accurate," Turner admitted of the quartet's decision to set aside Ryder's form and behavioural issues.
"We knew what he was capable of and we thought by selecting him it might just spark him back into form. It was a bit of a hope but the guy, as everyone has seen now, has got some real natural flair and talent.
"He was one of the few players we have around that can win a game for you on his day."
Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori realised those days can also be few and far between.
Ryder and Brendon McCullum smashed 165 in 109 balls to complete game two in quick time but Vettori said the pair's expansive approach would not come off every time.
McCullum was dropped when yet to score before clubbing 80 off 47 balls at Seddon Park while Ryder was missed on eight at slip.
A more favourable outcome for the tourists today and Vettori admitted an often fragile middle order will have to fill the void despite barely having played.
Peter Fulton and Scott Styris scored one run between them in Wellington while Taylor has been confined to a sedate 24 to help New Zealand over the line in game one.
Oram has not wielded a bat in anger since the first Twenty20 at Eden Park, leaving Vettori to hope work in the nets has kept his under-utilised batsmen in form.
"When their time comes hopefully they've still got some batting rhythm from their previous games," he said.
- NZPA
