Adam Milne has played in a World Cup final but for his first few games of this Big Bash season, the Sydney Thunder quick is happy to admit he was nervous.
And for good reason too.
This summer's BBL marked Milne's first cricket in 16 months, with the Black Caps speedster having long battled ankle issues.
The left-armer has largely got through it unscathed, missing the first two games of the tournament before playing 11 of 12 since.
"I was probably nervous for the first couple of games," Milne told AAP.
"In the first one, it was just getting the feel of the run-up again.
"As it's going on I felt like my rhythms are getting better and getting a bit more zoned in.
"I feel good and confident with my body, I'm not sort of worried about anything."
Milne is hoping to return to New Zealand domestic cricket after the tournament, and has made no secret of wanting to add to his 61 white-ball internationals.
Come Sunday night though, Milne will be back running in with full confidence in the knockout final against the winner of Thursday's clash between Brisbane and Adelaide.
And he looms as a big threat for the Thunder in the playoffs.
While the 28-year-old has taken just five wickets this summer, he has bowled well without luck going for just 7.40 an over.
"The lack of game time (was the hardest)," Milne said.
"There's just the little bit of time where you lose the match awareness and that just that feeling of running in in a game.
"Once you've done it a few times you get that feeling back what it's like running in to bowl in a game."
The Thunder go into Sunday's knockout game with wins in just two of their last six games.
But they know they have been close to the competition's most consistent, yet to be thrashed by any team and maintaining the best net run rate.
"When we haven't played probably our best games we still push teams right to the end," Milne said.
"That's a good sign for us."
