Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor needed just three matches to prove he could succeed in international cricket.
Photo: RNZ /Dom Thomas
But the then 21-year-old would never have dreamed of his latest achievement.
Almost 14 years on from his Black Caps debut, Taylor will become the first player to reach 100 international matches in all three of the sport's formats when the first Test against India begins in Wellington today.
The former New Zealand captain has been an almost permanent fixture in the national team in that time, driven throughout by one simple thing.
"I love playing cricket, first and foremost, it was something I've always wanted to do since I was a little kid.
"It's not a job, it's something that you love doing and I guess it's nice to start the club but I'm sure over the next few years there's going to be a lot more to join."
After his international debut in 2006, Taylor quickly established himself as a linchpin of the Black Caps line-up.
Another who fits in that category, seam bowler Trent Boult, said his longtime team-mate achieved that through several important qualities.
"He's a very determined guy, he's a big team man he and he loves performing so all those things drive him and it's an exciting milestone.
"I played in Brendon's (McCullum's) hundredth Test match here, which was an exciting build-up. I'm sure he's just going to embrace everything that comes with it but he's a great of New Zealand cricket and I really hope he does well."
Former Black Caps seamer Kyle Mills played alongside Taylor in the national side for almost a decade.
Mills said while Taylor's talent and skill was evident from the start - his ability to develop his game had also been crucial.
"He was certainly a very aggressive and one would think a white-ball cricketer but he kind of changed.
"[But with] the relationship he had with Martin Crowe, Test cricket became his focus and his batsmanship changed as his career developed.
"40 international hundreds I think he has, and that's some achievement as well."
The New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor celebrates scoring a double century. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Mills felt Taylor was one of many Black Caps who were thrust into the team before they were probably ready.
"You look at Australia, so much depth that you have a grounding of five, six years of first-class cricket before you play international cricket.
"Here in New Zealand, you get seen with a bit of talent and you get rushed into the international side and you're trying to learn your game at the hardest level of all.
"He withstood that, developed his game and became a very classy player."
It's not just current and former team-mates who admire New Zealand's leading run-getter in Tests and one-dayers.
Indian captain Virat Kohli, a former team-mate of Taylor in the Indian Premier League, said the Black Caps veteran was one of the sport's nice guys.
"He's a lovely guy and we get along really well.
"Really hardworking and he's a very keen thinker of the game. Not many people might know that or he might not come across as a guy who's too involved in the game but he does understand the game very well.
"That's the only way you can play so long, across all formats."
And he's not done yet.
With the runs continuing to flow - or fly - off his bat, Ross Taylor's retirement remains on the backburner.
"I always thought the 2019 World Cup was not a bad place to start thinking about that R word.
"But no, I still feel like I'm good enough and I've got a lot more to offer this team both on and off the field, and I'm still as hungry as ever to score runs."
A message that would be music to the ears of Black Caps fans, with two Tests against the world's number one team on the way.
