One year ago, West Australian paceman Joel Paris couldn't even pick up a pair of socks without getting injured.
Now, the 22-year-old paceman is being touted as a future Test prospect after playing a match-winning role in WA's nine-wicket triumph over Tasmania at the WACA Ground.
Paris, playing just his second Sheffield Shield match, snared 6-23 to dismiss Tasmania for 205 in their second innings.
It left WA needing just 52 runs to win, and they achieved their target with ease courtesy of Cameron Bancroft (32no) and Jonathan Wells (18no).
But the day well and truly belonged to Paris.
Tasmania resumed play on day four at 5-184, with the visitors requiring a big knock to add significant runs to their overnight lead of 30.
But the Tigers' victory hopes were in tatters when Paris dismissed Tom Triffitt (13) and Xavier Doherty (0) before a run had been added to the overnight score.
Paris then removed dangerman James Faulkner for 40, and he had wicket No.6 when Jackson Bird skied him to fine leg.
Cricket fans had a taste of Paris' potential during last summer's domestic one-day cup, when he snared 13 wickets at an average of 12.92 to spearhead WA's title-winning campaign.
But a torn quad suffered in the final ended up grounding Paris for the rest of the summer.
So fragile was his quad at the time, Paris even re-injured it while picking up a pair of socks.
"I rang the physio after I did it, and we had a bit of a chuckle about it," Paris said on Wednesday.
"It didn't take much for it to re-tear. And that was the problem. It wasn't fully re-tearing - it was just little tears here and there that kept me out of the game.
"It wasn't a great situation to be in, but we tried to see some positives out of it, and that was to build some strength up and have a good crack this year."
Paris snared six wickets in his Shield debut against Victoria last month, and his game haul of eight wickets against Tasmania showcased his match-winning abilities.
WA coach Justin Langer said a Test career beckoned for Paris if he could stay fit.
"We know he's a real talent," Langer said.
"When you get six-for, you straight away put your name up, don't you?"
Tasmanian skipper and former Test batsman George Bailey was also impressed by the emerging paceman.
"He's tall with good pace and swings it, which is three pretty key ingredients," Bailey said.
"I spent a little bit of time with him in Brisbane at the cricket academy, and was really impressed by his work ethic and character."
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