Training and bowling in the nets rather than playing the last few months didn't hurt New Zealand cricketer Mark Chapman too much as he returned to the wicket for the Black Caps.
Mark Chapman Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Chapman batted at three in the opening T20 international against India in Jaipur.
With some players being rested or injured, Chapman finally got the opportunity to walk to the crease with bat in hand and he made the most of it.
His last game was in April.
Chapman played his 31st T20 international, but just his 12th for New Zealand, scoring 63 off 50 balls as New Zealand were beaten by five wickets.
Chapman played the first part of his international career in Hong Kong, the country of his birth.
The 27 year old has spent the last month at the World Cup in the UAE watching from the stands.
"To be honest it was just nice to be out there, I had a lot of training behind the scenes but nothing beats the real thing and being out in the middle.
"World Cups you play your best eleven, so it just meant I was on the sidelines but I just did my best to support the guys in and around training and you just do your best to get fit and be ready for that chance."
Having not played a game for six months, Chapman was amped to get on the field in India.
"I play for New Zealand with pride and particularly for Todd (Astle) and myself who have been on the sidelines it was an exciting moment today to be playing.
"You find ways to add context to your training, you try and train the best that your can and make the most of it."
Gary Stead and Mark Chapman Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The next T20 World Cup is next year in Australia (after it was postponed from last year), and Chapman is hoping to be a part of that again.
"This Black Caps team is pretty competitive to get into so whenever you get your opportunity you've got to do what you can to contribute to the team and thankfully I was able to do that."
India is welcoming back capacity crowds for the tour and so it was quite a hostile environment Chapman found himself in as he returned to action.
"It took a little bit to get my rhythm going but once I'd faced a few balls and managed to get the pace of the wicket sorted things tended to come back pretty quickly."
After his knock yesterday Chapman is now in the driving seat to play the next two matches in the series in Ranchi on Saturday morning and Kolkata on Monday morning.
Also making the playing eleven were Rachin Ravindra, who was in the test squad, but got a late call up after Jimmy Neesham fell ill.
Lockie Ferguson also returned after being forced out of the T20 World Cup with a calf injury.
Mark Chapman was born in Hong Kong, but qualifying for New Zealand through his father, Chapman began his international career with the country of his birth in 2014.
He first made the New Zealand side in 2018 for the T20 tri-series involving England and Australia.
He is just one of a dozen men who have represented two countries in cricket with that list also including current Black Caps batting coach Luke Ronchi.
