The unpredictable nature of professional sport has been well and truly brought home for Tauranga's Black Cap Trent Boult in the last few weeks.
In the test series against England in May, the 23-year-old left-arm swing bowler made his first appearances at the famous grounds of Lord's and Headingly and played a huge part in the convincing display by the Black Caps bowlers, who more than held their own against their esteemed opponents.
Boult took three wickets at Lord's before ripping out England in the first innings at Headingly with a superb haul of 5-57.
And then disaster stuck - a sharp pain ripped through his side early in the English second innings and he could not continue on. He was diagnosed with a side strain and six weeks out of the game. It meant an early flight home and recuperating back in Otumoetai rather than being part of the Champions Trophy competition currently under way.
The timing of the injury could not have been worse as Boult was in the form of his life, having taken a personal best of 6-68 against England's feted batting line-up at Eden Park in March.