They say blood, sweat, and tears are the best way to reach the top. But for Perth Scorchers paceman Andrew Tye, it also took a whole lot of vomit.
Tye was gobsmacked after being told of his call-up for Australia's three-match T20 series against India, starting in Adelaide on January 26.
Three years ago, Tye was overweight and struggling to even crack a single game for Western Australia.
But a gruelling pre-season under the watch of WA coach Justin Langer and strength and conditioning enforcer Steve Smith changed all that.
Tye was pushed to his limits during every running session.
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And the end result was always the same - messy.
"Every running session without a doubt there was vomit," Tye said.
"There was 15 weeks of pre-season at least. Three running sessions a week. So at least 45 vomits.
"I was comfortably 40-50m behind the pack in every single run that we did.
"I just kept pushing myself trying to catch them. Eventually the lactic acid would make me throw up."
Tye was just 17 years old when Langer boldly predicted the raw paceman would one day play for Australia.
But Langer was thinking twice about that statement while he watched Tye struggle his way through pre-season training in 2013.
"Smithy used to abuse him, and he used to vomit and cry," Langer said.
"I reckon I said 20 times, 'He won't be back'.
"But he just kept coming back, turning up, and vomiting again, and making these funny noises.
"And he got fitter and fitter. And now he's in the Australian cricket team.
"To be where he is now - I'm just so happy for him. He deserves it."
The 29-year-old says it will be a dream come true to represent Australia. And he hopes to make the World T20 squad.
But first, he wants to guide the Scorchers to their third straight BBL crown.
Tye has claimed 13 wickets in eight BBL games this summer to help lift the Scorchers into Friday night's semi-final against the Melbourne Stars at the MCG.
