Reborn paceman Peter Siddle feared his career was finished when overlooked during the opening four Tests of Australia's failed Ashes campaign.
But having made a stirring comeback in the Oval dead rubber, the 30-year-old insists he's got plenty more to offer Australian cricket in the years to come.
Despite meekly handing back the Ashes urn with a horror series, and a looming shakeup of the Test XI, the depth in Australia's fast bowling stocks is as strong as ever.
It's why, after being overlooked in the first four Tests of this Ashes series, Siddle thought he would be lucky to add to his 56 Australian caps.
"You always think (it might have been the last chance) a little bit," Siddle admitted.
"(There were) a couple of wickets that we'd played on where I thought I might've got my opportunity and had missed out.
"You just never know (what happens next).
"Trent Bridge ... was disappointing, but (I thought) 'keep doing everything I can' and make sure that if my opportunity came that I had to be ready to go.
"... I was disappointed it did take so long, but I was ready at any stage."
But even with Australia's glut of talented pacemen, which includes young guns Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson who aren't playing at the Oval, Siddle is confident he won't be joining Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers in playing his last Test this week.
His chances will be helped by a welcome return at the Oval, where he has been economical and effective - bowling 10 maidens from his 16 second innings overs while grabbing the wicket of Adam Lyth in addition to his two scalps in the first dig.
They took him to 195 Test wickets and breathed life into his bid to become the 15th Australia to reach the 200 club.
Certainly, Siddle provided plenty of food for thought for selectors, who face a number of tough questions ahead of October's two-Test series of Bangladesh and then onto the Australian summer, where New Zealand and West Indies await.
"You'd hope so, yeah," Siddle said when asked if he had renewed hope for his Test career.
"You always want to keep playing for your country.
"It's obviously tough being on the sidelines and carrying drinks ... especially at my age - it's only 30 but you still want to be out there.
"It has been tough, but to get this opportunity and come out here and bowl well (has been pleasing)."
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