Chris Tremain describes last season as a struggle.
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His passion was diminishing and it showed on the field as he battled to keep his spot in Victoria's lineup after pushing for a spot in Australia's Ashes squad just months earlier.
But now, back in the NSW and refreshed after a lengthy COVID-enforced layoff, the Yeoval product and former Western Zone spearhead is feeling refreshed.
Tremain has returned to the Blues for 2020/21 after spending six seasons south of the border.
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The time with Victoria was hugely successful, as he took more than 200 wickets as the Bushrangers won four Sheffield Shield titles while he also made his one-day international debut for Australia in 2006 and was part of an Australia A squad in England last year where he was bowling for spot in the Ashes squad.
It was that intra-squad match, where Tremain bowled just 10 overs, where the flame started to go out.
But now it burns bright again.
"It felt good to be back doing what I was doing and just watching the ball hit the wicket and bounce and seam away," Tremain told cricket.com.au of his recent return to training.
"It was a foreign feeling because I hadn't seen it for 12 months and it made me feel good, and when I felt good I had better thoughts and when I had better thoughts I acted better. It's all flowed on.
"That big break that got me away from cricket, inadvertently due to a global outbreak, it's been good to have a forced layoff and for my health and my family's health.
"I think this break would have done me good regardless where I was but the move to NSW is a change in environment and sometimes that's all you need, just a little change in environment to maybe restart the engine."
Tremain has said since the move back to NSW was announced it was as much about family as it was cricket.
Everything for the 28-year-old had previously revolved around that contest on the field and taking wickets but when talking to cricket.com.au he said that has changed.
His wife and young son, Noah, have much to do with that.
That approach is likely to prove hugely beneficial in the NSW squad, one which already boasts the Australian Test bowling attack.
""There wasn't so much a focus on what players NSW had because not only did they have a really, really good squad with a lot of Aussie players, they've also got a state that produces really good cricketers every other year anyway," Tremain said.
"There's every chance in the next two or three years the next Brett Lee, Pat Cummins or Mitch Starc will pop up.
"There's very little to do with that, it was just the best place to have a job and play cricket for as long as I can."
