Three months ago, Jon Holland was the struggling Test debutant on a sinking ship in Sri Lanka.
But with Australia's tour of India on the horizon, the left-arm orthodox spinner is determined to earn a shot at redemption and has done his prospects no harm with a quality start to the Sheffield Shield season.
Holland claimed figures of 4-32 and 4-46 as Victoria cruised to a commanding win over Queensland with a day-and-a-half to spare on Sunday.
The 29-year-old took three wickets in his first over to leave Queensland reeling at 4-23 on Saturday, mixing up his speed and flight to get something out of the MCG pitch.
"It doesn't spin at all here either, so to get eight wickets in the match is a great effort," teammate Cameron White said.
"He's just developed his bowling. The last couple of years there's been a big improvement. He's very skilful now. His changes of pace are very subtle and he's spinning the ball."
Holland was summoned to Sri Lanka in August to replace the injured Steve O'Keefe but was unable to deliver his best, taking five wickets in four innings as the visitors slumped to a 3-0 series whitewash.
After waiting nine years for his first baggy green, Holland has made clear his determination to receive another shot, with next year's tour of spin-friendly India presenting the ideal opportunity.
The likes of O'Keefe, Adam Zampa, Fawad Ahmed and Ashton Agar will all likely be vying to accompany first-choice spinner Nathan Lyon to the subcontinent.
But veteran batsman White, whose four Test berths came during Australia's tour of India in 2008, believes Holland will be firmly in selectors' minds.
"I think he's really keeping his name there or thereabouts if the Australian selectors decide they want to make a change at some point," White said.
"If they're looking for a left-arm orthodox, he's the best one in the country.
"Obviously Nathan Lyon's got a great record and he'd be pretty hard to displace. But if at some stage along the line they were looking to mix it up with a different option, Jon's in a great place at the moment."
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