Adam Hollioake was once England's captain for one-day internationals and briefly viewed as an alternative to Michael Vaughan when Nasser Hussain resigned the post two years ago.
But the call did not come and he retired as a Surrey player in August last year.
Now, he is happily settled in Perth where he works in property but spends as much time as he can with his family.
Cricket seems to be part of another lifetime for Hollioake, whose younger brother and team-mate Ben died in a car accident in 2002.
He did, however, re-appear at The Oval on Monday in the Tsunami Relief Appeal match where he amazed himself by taking a hat-trick with his slightly rusty, but still effective, bowling.
"It's interesting when I look back - it's quite funny - I've almost forgotten that I ever played the game," he says in an interview for BBC Sport.
"I watch the guys on TV and actually forget that I used to play."
The question that elicited that unexpected response was simply: Do you think you should have played more often for England?
Now aged 33, he played in four Test matches and 35 one-day internationals, but was jettisoned after the 1999 World Cup - never to return.
Hollioake does not think he was badly treated by the selectors, however.
"It's a funny sort of situation - I think it would be the wrong way for me to look at it and think I should have played more.
"There's been a lot better players than me who haven't played at all so I think I should be a bit grateful."
Shaun Pollock congratulates Hollioake on his Oval hat-trick
|
He has no regrets about ending his career as a player.
"I knew that when I retired the competing side of it and the camaraderie and so on were things I was going to miss.
"But I often remind myself of the things don't miss like being away from my family."
He is also spending time assisting The Chase/Ben Hollioake Fund.
The charity is seeking to create a day centre in South London for terminally-ill children.
He says: "Once we have done that I'll make a decision as to whether we raise funds to keep it going or allow the Ben Hollioake Fund to evolve and let the day centre run itself."
With the national game going so well, does he feel - as Alec Stewart does - that the presence of Ben would have made England's Ashes bid even stronger?
"You're asking me to read a crystal ball - he was heading in the right direction, he was a talented player and I suppose we'll never know.
"A whole lot of things have happened. There are other very good players who have lost form and not so good players who have come good later in their career so it's hard to judge.
"He certainly had the ability to be a world-class player - whether or not he would have done that we'll never know."
Hollioake will be one of millions of fascinated bystanders during the Ashes series, and predicts plenty of competitive exchanges.
He adds: "England have just got to keep the pressure on and make it difficult for Australia to get their house in order.
"History would suggest Australia will get their house in order but then England are a fine side and it's going to be a hell of a series."