Rookie NSW quick Burt Cockley questioned whether he belonged at first class level before recovering to capture career-best figures as the Blues fought back on day three of their Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield encounter with Victoria at the SCG.
Cockley was distraught at the end of day two after bowling poorly to conceded 56 runs from 10 wicketless overs.
Coming on the back of a mauling in last Sunday's one-dayer against the Vics, the Newcastle-born paceman went through a night of soul searching, emerging a new bowler on Thursday morning.
He ripped through the Bushrangers' middle order to claim figures of 5-84 in a stunning revival.
At one stage Cockley took 4-11 from five overs.
"I was down at fine leg (on Wednesday) thinking 'what's going on here? This isn't supposed to be happening. Do I belong here?'" Cockley revealed after his amazing turnaround.
"I struggled. I had no rhythm and I was a bit rattled from the one-dayer on Sunday (after bowling) five overs for 50 (runs)."
"I didn't really have the confidence. I went home and sorted out my head a bit more and came back today and tried to start all over again."
"I just tried to get them through to 'Smithy' (wicket-keeper Daniel Smith) and get a bit more confidence and rhythm into my game and I got a few wickets."
"It's good to come back and redeem yourself. I couldn't be happier."
Thanks to Cockley and an unbroken 137-run second-wicket partnership between Peter Forrest and Phil Hughes, the Blues (1-138) are in a much healthier state than they were at the start of the third day.
The visitors hold a 41-run lead, with a draw now the most likely result.
"At the start of the morning anything could have happened," Cockley said.
"Rolling them for the total they got and then to get to 130-odd down for one wicket ... the tables have turned."
"Anything can happen tomorrow. We'll see what happens."