Mitchell McClenaghan is probably the first player in the history of first-class cricket to have had three hip operations before claiming a five-wicket bag.
But all the pain and rehabilitation paid off yesterday, when the Auckland left-armer skittling six Otago batsmen on the opening day of their Plunket Shield match at University Oval yesterday.
Otago was dismissed for 226, McClenaghan taking six for 87 on a bowler-friendly surface.
Auckland did not find the batting any easier, slumping to 80 for five at stumps on a day when 15 wickets fell.
The 25-year-old McClenaghan actually made his first-class debut for Central Districts in November 2007 and wasted little time impressing with his pace and ability to swing the ball both ways. He was selected for the New Zealand A side which played the England Lions in March 2009 and appeared to have a bright future.
But he tore cartilage in both his hips and needed surgery to correct the problem. The problem seemed to be fixed but the pain returned and he needed two further operations.
So it has been a long haul back and yesterday he demonstrated just why he was so highly-rated.
A strongly-built young man, he gets in nice and close to the wickets and is able to generate an extra yard of pace. He was a threat from the onset, drawing a false shot from Craig Cumming and going past the bat often.
When he eventually struck, it was more through good fortune.
Cumming played a limited-overs type shot, looking to loft the ball into the on-side and found Dean Bartlett at mid-on.
In his opening six over spell, McClenaghan took one for 18 but it was in his third spell that he did all the damage.
Jimmy Neesham tried to get away from a bouncer but left his bat in the way, Neil Wagner gloved a hook shot, Derek de Boorder and Nick Beard both got edges through to the keeper and Warren McSkimming was trapped lbw.
In a little over nine overs, McClenaghan had mopped up the middle and lower order. Test bowler Chris Martin also bowled well with two for 41 from 15 overs.
Neil Broom (57) and de Boorder (51) added 91 runs for the fifth-wicket to help rescue their side from the perilous position of 56 for four.
Former captain Aaron Redmond's abysmal run of form was extended by an innings when he flashed at a drive and was caught in the slips for 15.
Disappointment soon turned to euphoria, when McSkimming picked up two early wickets. The experienced medium pacer has been missing from the Otago line-up all summer. A knee injury kept him on the sideline.
He nicked out former Black Caps opener Tim McIntosh and then bowled Brad Cachopa with a beauty. The ball jagged back and clattered into the top of off stump. Cachopa did not offer a shot.
Otago's modest total of 226 suddenly seemed huge with the ball swinging and nipping about as it was.
Wagner found the edge of Jeet Raval's bat and Ian Butler trapped Anaru Kitchen lbw for one, leaving the visitor in a parlous state at 19 for four. Gareth Hopkins and Neal Parlane led a mini-revival, adding 27 and more than doubling the score.
Parlane has had a fairytale few weeks, with back-to-back hundreds in the one-day competition.
But he was undone by a well-directed bouncer from Wagner, fending it gently to Broom at second slip.
Hopkins survived some close calls but is undefeated on 28.
Colin Munro is at the wicket with him, on 11.
In Gisborne, Northern Districts made a mediocre start to defending its lead at the top of the table, but Hamish Marshall, with 82, enabled the home side to reach respectability at 283 for eight, APNZ reports.
Brother James chipped in with 43, which enabled him to become the province's leading first class run-scorer, while New Zealand wicketkeeper BJ Watling finished the day unbeaten on 42.
The best of the ND bowlers was Zimbabwean Kyle Jarvis with three for 46.
Bottom-placed Canterbury reched 321 for eightin Rangiora, with dumped Black Caps wicketkeeper Reece Young ending the day on 98 not out. He capitalised on a solid foundation built by George Worker (64) and Peter Fulton (55).
For Wellington, 21-year-old Harry Boam took four for 48, his first four-wicket haul in first class cricket.
