Peter Siddle feared it was over.
As Australia slipped to a humbling Ashes loss in England, a frustrated Siddle thought his cards had been marked by Test selectors.
His suspicions of being stranded when so close to achieving the 200 Test wicket milestone appeared to be confirmed when overlooked for the fourth Test on a green-top in Nottingham.
"When I didn't get selected there, I had a chat with Punter (Ricky Ponting) out in the middle while all the boys were warming up," Siddle said on Friday.
"And I sort of said that I think my chance might have slipped away and I might not get the chance to take 200."
But Siddle was surprisingly summoned for the fifth Test at The Oval, for his first Test in more than eight months. He took six wickets to take his Test tally to 198 victims.
Back on home soil, Siddle again was on the outer for the initial two Tests against New Zealand.
Then Mitchell Johnson retired, and Siddle was recalled again for the historic day-night Test in Adelaide. And he took 2-54 on day one to reach a personal milestone.
"It was nice to come out and get the remaining two wickets and join the 200 club, it's a nice reward," Siddle said.
Siddle marked the milestone by blowing a kiss to the sky, which he said was aimed for Phillip Hughes and also for his sick nan.
"My Nan is not well back home," he said.
"I was just very pleased at the end to get the 200 and know that, she probably wasn't watching, but she'll be able to see the highlights and know that I got there.
"The last 12 months I haven't played a lot of (Test) cricket ... so knowing that she will get to see that, it makes me very happy."
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