This time last year Black Caps allrounder Mitchell Santner was enjoying Christmas at home preparing for a domestic one-day match.
On Boxing Day he'll step onto Hagley Oval to face Sri Lanka in the first of five one-dayers between the sides and is only too aware of the breakthrough year he's enjoyed.
"It's happened pretty fast," the 23-year-old Northern Knight said.
"It's been a special experience. I try not to think about it too much and take it day by day and game by game."
He'll play his sixth international one-dayer in a year which has seen him make his Test debut and by the end of it usurp Mark Craig as the side's first-choice spinner.
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Another sign of how far he has come is the fact that he'll be among a group of Black Caps `nomads' enjoying a barbecue at captain Brendon McCullum's place on Christmas Day rather than with family.
But, he says, the Black Caps are just like family.
"Everyone's got your back ad backs you 100 per cent."
The side play their first ODI at home since their dream run at the Cricket World Cup which began at the same ground, with a 98-run win against the same opponents last February.
Batting coach Craig McMillan is hopeful of an encore.
"Our one-day performance last summer, against Sri Lanka firstly and then at the World Cup, was excellent.
"So we set the bar pretty high and we need to reach those standards again this summer.
"That will be the challenge for the guys," he said.
Santner is not the only face in the squad that captured the nation's imagination on their run to the World Cup final.
Legspinner Ish Sodhi, allrounder George Worker and top order bat Henry Nicholls, who is poised to make his debut, have helped breathe new life into a side that enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 sweep on the Tests.
"I think there's some excitement in the group. It's always nice when you bring in new faces because they bring enthusiasm into the set-up," said McMillan.
The new venue at Hagley Oval has proved a happy hunting ground for teams batting first with four of the six international sides passing the 300-run mark and McMillan expects another belter.
"The batsmen should have a smile on their face.
"But it's a good cricket wicket. There's something there for the bowlers if they put in - some pace and bounce - so the batsmen won't see it all their own way."
