KEY POINTS:
Kyle Mills, senior New Zealand pace bowler, has a nice ring to it.
And Mills is comfortable in his role as leader of the fast-medium attack. Comfortable, as distinct from complacent.
A recent experience rammed home to the Auckland seamer that there's no such thing as a sure bet.
He toured England in the middle of the year, went to Bangladesh in October and was in Australia shortly after when he was told he wasn't required for the two tests.
So it was back to club cricket and a sharp dose of reality.
When he talks of cricket being "a great leveller", he speaks from experience. His career has had its ups and downs, injury and selectorial whims having played their parts.
He made his debut in Sharjah in April 2001. His teammates that day when Pakistan flogged New Zealand by seven wickets have gone, Jacob Oram apart.
But with experience comes wisdom and Mills, 29, is now at the peak of his one-day game. Today he'll lead the attack in his 94th ODI, in which he has taken 140 wickets at 25.42.
Only captain Dan Vettori (229 wickets), Chris Harris (203), Chris Cairns (200) and Sir Richard Hadlee (158) have taken more for New Zealand. Of those, only the great Hadlee has a superior average.
His last 15 games have produced 29 wickets - anything over one wicket per game is pretty handy - and, perhaps even more pertinently, 12 in the last five ODIs against Australia in which he has bowled.
In Perth last Sunday, Mills was man of the match for his fine four for 35 as Australia were rolled for 181, then scored a vital 26 as New Zealand's innings was in danger of falling apart.
Throughout his career, Mills has absorbed lessons to the point where he is the man the other fast-medium bowlers would turn to as they found their feet, even Iain O'Brien, who is a regular test bowler but was only playing his second ODI in Perth.
Mills was asked to lead the group during last year's tour of England, and it's added an extra layer to his cricket.
"We have group get-togethers and talk about what's happened in the game previously and how to apply things in the game coming up," Mills said.
"It's more like a sign-off. We're a team of individuals but have to bowl as a group and everyone has to be aware of their responsibilities and of what people are trying to do.
"And with power plays now you've got to be ready to bowl in pretty much every situation."
His journey of discovery began some years ago when he realised he would never be an express pace bowler.
So he adapted and adjusted.
"I have had to learn swing bowling and variations and I feel comfortable with what I'm doing with the ball and have a better understanding of my capabilities."
That manifests itself in terms of how he uses other elements like change of pace and grip to his stock delivery.
"I have a better understanding of when to apply them, whereas in the past I probably tried things for the sake of trying them.
"The more games you play the more you get exposed to the best batsmen in the world. They find out pretty quickly how to play you, so you've got to stay a step ahead of them. You can get away with a half volley in domestic cricket, but you don't in international cricket."
If you want a snapshot of why New Zealand fancy their chances of toppling Australia in this Chappell Hadlee series, Mills can provide it.
"A year ago I was bowling to Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden; now we're bowling to David Warner and Shaun Marsh. A big difference."
Point taken. Two of the game's greats have been replaced by players trying to cut it in the Australian side. Mills and co aim to make life difficult for them. There is a palpable sense that the Australians, who have lost five of their last six ODIs, are struggling.
New Zealand have picked up the scent.
"There's no doubt pressure is falling on individuals. Places in the top order are up for grabs. In saying all that, we've been in that position for years. We have a bunch of new guys trying to find their way in international cricket, so it mirrors a little bit of what is going through their side. We understand what they are going through."
Understand as opposed to sympathise. New Zealand can sense an opportunity to put the foot on the Aussies, not a feeling they have been overly familiar with down the years.
And the belief that Australia are more vulnerable than they have been in a decade is why Mills maintains even if Australia win today, it won't knock New Zealand off stride.
"One thing is that even though we've got young and inexperienced guys they don't have battle scars of having played really good Australian teams. Others of us have.
"So they're excited to be here, fresh and keen to rip into it. Starting with a win in Perth was huge for us."
A huge day for Mills, too, and he's got a big night ahead after today's match as one of three New Zealand players in the Indian Premier League auction, the others being Jesse Ryder and James Franklin.
He has "no idea" what will happen but fingers are crossed.
A New Zealand win today and getting snapped up by a franchise tonight would be an ideal double.
