The modern limited-overs world of big bats, small boundaries and extensive fielding restrictions is a difficult environment to nurture a spinner, but Santner was unfazed bowling left arm-orthodox at pressure moments.
One example came in the deciding match. New Zealand eventually lost, but Santner came on in the second over and took three wickets for five runs from eight balls.
To balance the equation, he dropped Jonny Bairstow on 56 on his way to a match-winning 83 not out. The ball was spooned to third man and, at a rough estimate - using the Mississippi counting system - spent at least four seconds in the air.
Regardless of that spill, New Zealand's development of Santner to replenish their post-Vettori all-rounder stocks looks a sound investment.
A broken thumb scuppered his chances of touring Zimbabwe and South Africa but he's now ready to face Australia.
"The [England] tour gave me the confidence to know I could compete at that level so I put my energies back into training, and did OK with New Zealand A [against Sri Lanka A] at Lincoln.
Santner's version of "OK" convinced the selectors of his test pedigree. He scored 70 not out and 32 and took seven wickets at 16.71 with an economy rate of 4.08 in the four List A matches. That backed up 110 and 48 in unofficial one-dayers for the NZC winter training squad against the same opposition.
"Gav [Larsen] said I'd be covering for Neesh [Jimmy Neesham] and be an option if they want to play another spinner. Hopefully I can get a crack in the warmup games and push myself into contention for the tests."
Santner has the security of knowing he belongs, at least for a year, having earned his first national contract in July.
"That indicates the selectors have faith after a reasonable tour of England. It gives me confidence I'm heading in the right direction."
Santner appreciated arriving into an inclusive environment where he was embraced, rather than being forced to prove his credibility. It beats squirming as an apprentice under cricket's version of a Donald Trump or Lord Sugar.
"They welcome you in, everyone has faith in you, and it gives you confidence in your ability straight away. You can go to experienced guys and they are forthcoming, like [Northern Districts team-mates] Tim [Southee], Trent [Boult], Kane [Williamson] and BJ [Watling].
He has also worked closely with former test spinner and NZC talent identification manager Paul Wiseman and high performance coach Bob Carter.
"I've been learning more about the tactical side of bowling and setting batsmen up more through my field settings, which was crucial in the Sri Lankan series.
"Pitches are that much better at the top level, so you have to work hard for your wickets. Those pitches [against Sri Lanka] were quite flat so you almost had to dot it up, and wickets came through pressure."
Santner has toured Australia once as a schoolboy of about 15, around the time the Hamilton Boys' High School student decided his future lay in emulating Vettori by changing from left-arm pace to spin.
Eight years on, and he has sacrificed the third year of four in his pursuit of a mechanical engineering degree at Waikato University.
