Craig McMillan has good reason to be focusing with renewed confidence on the Test series against South Africa starting on Wednesday.
Having just become a father, McMillan expressed relief at being able to concentrate on the three-Test series and attempt to pass the 3,000-run mark.
"You look at things in a different perspective when you become a parent and I had my wife and the imminent birth on my mind a lot during the one-day series," McMillan said on Monday.
The 27-year-old 48-Test veteran's Test tally stands at 2,909 at an average of 41.55, with a highest score of 142. He has scored six centuries and 18 half-centuries.
"My dream is to score a century against South Africa," McMillan said. "That's how you're gauged as a batsman, by how many runs you make.
"I haven't got a bad ratio of centuries to 50s, but I want to improve it."
McMillan had one good innings in the one-day series against South Africa, won 5-1 by New Zealand, scoring 70 not out in the second match when New Zealand squared the series 1-1.
That day the Canterbury batsman had been strongly criticised in a column in one of the country's biggest newspapers, although he said he had not heard about it until after his innings.
{{/usCountry}}That day the Canterbury batsman had been strongly criticised in a column in one of the country's biggest newspapers, although he said he had not heard about it until after his innings.
{{/usCountry}}"I got told about it after the match," McMillan said. "I'm afraid it had no bearing on how I played that night, but it was strong stuff.
"You've got to take criticism on the chin and somehow prove you can play a bit."
McMillan has perhaps been lucky to be in both one-day squads against Pakistan and South Africa this year as he opted out of the five-match series in Pakistan in November for personal reasons.
After a poor World Cup in South Africa a year ago, McMillan was dropped from the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka, although he was reinstated for the next tour, to India, with a triangular one-day series tacked on involving Australia.
"It may sound funny, but being dropped can be a good thing," McMillan said.
"Sometimes you need a small break and re-evaluate yourself."
Now he is firmly back in the frame, McMillan believes South Africa are going to be a totally different team in the Tests from the one-day games.
"We've obviously got a bit of confidence, but it's a whole new ball game now. They are going to be smarting a bit and really keen for some revenge.
"We're determined to do well because we lost our third place in the ICC Test rankings when we lost to Pakistan (1-0 in December). We've managed to move up in the ODI stats, so a nice double would be a Test series win."