Australia's latest Twenty20 recruit - and certainly its oldest - Brad Hogg was meant to be heading to the Twenty20 World Cup next September as coach of the Papua New Guinea national side.
Instead, he could be heading there as a player after his fairytale selection in the Australian side to play in two Twenty20 Internationals this summer against India was confirmed on Monday.
The 40-year-old has been boasting a grin wider than the Nullabor after becoming the surprise hit of the KFC T20 Big Bash League season, his 12 wickets at 13.5 for the series, along with an economy rate of just 5.4 an over, helping the Perth Scorchers into next Saturday's final against the Sydney Sixers.
And, there was no stopping the motor-mouthed spinner once his selection was revealed through Cricket Australia's Twitter account.
"It's extremely breathtaking," declared Hogg from a recovery session at Perth's City Beach.
"Probably around a week ago, I started thinking, 'well if they're interested in selecting me, I'll definitely take that opportunity'."
"John (Australian chairman of selectors John Inverarity) rang me up yesterday and just asked me if I was right to go. He woke me up at 7 o'clock in the morning, the old bugger."
"(But) I was pumping my fist before I answered it."
"It's great news. I hardly slept last night. I'm just excited. It's just like being a kid again and another Christmas present under the Christmas tree."
"I'm just lost for words. It's exciting and I'm really looking forward to it."
"We've got some exciting young talent in that squad. And to play with David Warner ... it would be great to be alongside him - someone that's the future of Australian cricket in the next 10 years."
Hogg will be turning 41 next month, with his call-up coming almost four years after he retired from all forms of the game for personal reasons in March 2008 after 15 years of playing.
At the time it was a career that had seen him make seven Test appearances - Hogg also endured a seven-year-wait between playing his first and second Tests for Australia - along with 123 one-day internationals, and two T20 internationals.
But having spent time coaching the Papua New Guinea national side - a group he hoped to take to the T20 World Cup - Hogg re-discovered his love of the game.
"Andy Bichel was doing the job and I was going to take over when Bichel decided to leave," Hogg explained.
"Those things have changed. But I'll stay involved in some capacity over there. I'll keep chatting with Greg Campbell, who's in charge."
"They're a pretty talented squad over there and an interesting group of people," he added.
"The enthusiasm over there for the way they go about their cricket, gave me the joy to come back and play for the Perth Scorchers."
"(But) I feel good. I feel young still."
"I didn't plan it, and going around the second time, well third time really - it took seven years between drinks when I went to India, and now it's another four years - it's just really exciting and I'm just going to enjoy every moment of it."