Two months ago James Faulkner was looking to put his feet up and spend some time at home at the conclusion of the Indian Premier League after 12 months of non-stop cricket.
But Pat Howard, Cricket Australia's high performance manager, had other ideas – he wanted Faulkner to replace Ashes tourist Peter Siddle as the overseas player at Lancashire. His logic was simple: let's have the combative all-rounder up and running in case one of the touring squad falls over.
Things were going well for Faulkner until Thursday night's driving indiscretion. He had his mojo back as the "finisher" in T20 cricket for his new club, and he had scored a maiden first-class hundred and bowled plenty of overs in four-day cricket. He was ready if that wonky Ryan Harris knee didn't come up.
All eyes are now focused on Cardiff on Wednesday, but Friday night was going to be a nice little appetiser for any Aussie cricket fans three hours away in Manchester – a big T20 match between Lancashire and Yorkshire featuring three World Cup stars: Faulkner against Victorian duo Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell under the tutelage of Jason Gillespie.
A full house and raucous atmosphere ensured a fun evening, and Lancashire got the desired result. But it wasn't a great evening from an Australian perspective: the red rose county's main man was missing from the team sheet after news of his drink-driving offence broke a couple of hours before starting time, while Finch and Maxwell had quiet games by their standards.
Faulkner isn't the first cricketer to make a poor decision behind the wheel, but he'll go through a range of remorseful emotions over the coming weeks and months. Most importantly, he'll learn from his mistake and bounce back, because that's the type of young man he is.
Cricket Australia isn't happy and will most likely wield the big stick, excluding him from the one-day series that follows the Tests.
For Finch and Maxwell, it's time to get their cricketing acts together. Both are massive talents who have been beset by either injury or lack of opportunity since the World Cup. And so to Cardiff, and what we've all been waiting for. Australia are hot favourites, but how will that bowling depth be looking in a month's time?
