Despite his good night at the Halberg Awards, when he was named Sportsman of the Year and the Blackcaps Team of the Year, it's been a tough few months for skipper Kane Williamson.
A long-term elbow injury has seen him miss some of his side's biggest moments in recent history - Ajaz Patel's 10-fer, Ross Taylor's final test and that win over South Africa at Hagley Oval last week that has them on the verge of history.
Williamson's still learning to do life a little bit differently - like fistbumps, rather than handshakes in these COVID times.
"Oh, is this the Auckland handshake?" he quips.
His net time is slowly increasing - Williamson’s now up to 45 minutes - with loading and gradual strengthening the main focuses.
"There is a slight grey area, which I always try and expose... just don't tell the physio," he tells Newshub. "Nah, I've been pretty strict."
While the injury hasn't had the 31-year-old questioning his longevity or future in the game - "I did notice I'm in the 'old' team now for touch rugby" - it has made him re-evaluate aspects of his life.
"The things that were normal to you for a period of time, all of a sudden, you're not doing those things and you do think, but I'm pretty confident I can move past it."
After initially targeting the South Africa test series for his return, Williamson was resigned to the nets and watching on the sidelines, as the Blackcaps - without him, Taylor and Trent Boult -blitzed the Proteas in the series opener.
"It was an outstanding performance," says Williamson. "You couldn't fault a thing.
"You can't really remember a performance quite like it, to be honest."
Williamson's yet to confirm whether he'll feature in the white-ball series against the Netherlands, starting next month.
April 4 looms as a key date in the Black Caps calendar - Taylor's final game for the side.
"It was a real shame not to be a part of that [final test] on the park, but I guess that's life and it was great to be there to celebrate that with Ross, We've still got another few games, as well, so we'll see."
Hugs, rather than 'Auckland handshakes', seem a fitting way to end.
Join us at 11am Friday for live updates of the second Blackcaps v South Africa test
