There were a few stories to emerge from this week's Sheffield Shield final, but James Pattinson's could emerge as the most significant.
On Sunday, Victoria won their fourth title in five years after man-of-the-match Test opener Marcus Harris scored the contest's only hundred on a tough pitch.
However, Pattinson ripped through NSW with match figures of 7/71, with his fourth-day heroics orchestrating a wild collapse.
After Pattinson castled Nick Larkin for 7, leaving NSW 1/12 chasing 388, Kurtis Patterson and Daniel Hughes steadied the ship with a 120-run second-wicket partnership.
MORE: Australian bowlers hit back at fourth Test boycott reports
When Peter Siddle had Patterson caught off his own bowling for 76, Pattinson started a rot that NSW couldn't stop.
In a devastating burst, NSW slipped from 2/162 to 210 all out, the visitors losing 8/48 as Pattinson finished with 4/41.
With the Ashes looming, and with Dukes ball in hand under cloudy skies, there was no greater dress rehearsal than this - and Pattinson controlled the show.
In all, Pattinson ended the Shield season with 26 wickets at 18.92 at an absurd strike rate of 34.2.
Sunday marked Victoria's 32nd Sheffield Shield title, with the state extending their dominance across all formats this summer.
Earlier in the season, Victoria claimed the JLT One-Day Cup, while last month, Melbourne Renegades won their maiden Big Bash crown.
All three efforts have been coached by former Test all-rounder Andrew McDonald, while Harris, Cameron White and Chris Tremain are the proud players to have won all three.
Sing it loud boys 📢
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) March 31, 2019
Hearts to hearts and hands to hands! 💙👐 #vicsdoitbetter pic.twitter.com/hQbejciL9X
With Tremain and state player of the year Scott Boland also impressing at Junction Oval, McDonald will be hoping his quicks will all get a chance in the UK, on the Australia A and Ashes tours.
It's much of the same hope for NSW veteran Trent Copeland, who was very strong in a losing effort with match figures of 8/126.
Copeland started the fourth morning to end up with 3/52, enhancing his chances as an Ashes bolter after rising to the top of the Shield wicket takers' list for the season with 52 wickets at 18.21.
However, Pattinson's domination of the final, with the title there for the taking, ensured an irresistable case for Test squad selection at the very least.
Pattinson will get to push his case further, with the right-armer set to head to the UK to play for Nottinghamshire in the English County Championship.
In time, selectors will have to name a 17-man squad ahead of the Ashes opener on August 1, and Pattinson - long-troubled by injuries - will be praying his body and form hold up as he chases a recall.
Siddle - who took five wickets in the first innings against NSW - will link up with Essex.
