Scott Boland believes he has improved as a bowler since his spellbinding Ashes debut as he prepares to seize his second opportunity in Test cricket.
Boland will replace the injured Pat Cummins for the Adelaide Test against West Indies, ensuring he does not become a one-series wonder for Australia.
The right-armer's 6-7 on debut at the MCG will remain the stuff of legend, as will the 18 wickets he collected in his maiden series at 9.55.
But since then the Victorian has gone on tour with Australia to Pakistan and Sri Lanka, wondering - at the age of 33 - if his chance would come again.
"I feel like (I've improved)," Boland said.
"When you're in such a good environment like this and you get to bowl with guys in the nets like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, you will always improve.
"Bowling to some of the best batters in the world has helped my game and hopefully next week I can bowl well again."
Originally dubbed an MCG specialist, there is a thought Boland will be equally effective on a similar wicket at Adelaide Oval.
He would also loom as an option for Australia in next year's Ashes, particularly through a summer tour of Tests with little turnaround between matches.
"He's always been a workhorse, bowls a lot of overs," Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith said.
"He's always at you. You don't get much reprieve and his ability to just hit good areas consistently is what's held him in good stead for a long time and allowed him to be so successful in the Test matches that he's played in, and in first-class cricket.
"Hopefully we can see something similar to what he produced last year.
"If he continues hitting those areas consistently and challenging anyone's front-foot defence as much as he did last year, then there's no reason why he's not going to get similar results."
Meanwhile, fellow back-up quick Lance Morris had his first bowl at an Australia training session on Wednesday.
He will remain on the sideline for the Adelaide Test, with Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc both fit after the win in Perth.
