The silent treatment from Brad Haddin provided Peter Forrest with the harsh lesson he needed to help him achieve his goal of rising into the Australian squad.
On the eve of reuniting with good mate Haddin for the Prime Minister's XI match, Forrest said it was the Test wicketkeeper's decision to ''make my life hell'' when they were teammates at NSW which kick-started his career.
Haddin refused to speak to young guns Forrest, John Hastings and Stephen O'Keefe at NSW training almost seven years ago to try to make them work harder in the nets.
At the time, Forrest couldn't understand why Haddin would not talk to him.
But the 26-year-old batsman - who now plays for Queensland - credited the unconventional method with his rise into the Australian one-day squad.
The only dampener on his surprise selection in the limited overs squad earlier this week was learning Haddin had been omitted for at least the first three games.
''Hads took me under his wing in my first year and then he decided he wanted to make my life hell to make sure I was training hard enough and I improved,'' Forrest said.
''He refused to talk to me for a while. He told me after it, 'I reckon you're good enough to play for Australia, so I was testing you to make sure you didn't sit back and go on the ride'.
''I didn't understand what he was doing, I didn't know why he was treating me like that.
''But it worked. Whenever he was around I tried to train as hard as I could. I guess there's a method to his madness. It was probably the kick in the bum I needed.''
Forrest and the Queensland contingent from the PM's XI line-up were the first to arrive in the capital.
The match at Manuka Oval tomorrow will cap off a ''whirlwind'' week for Forrest, who is still coming to grips with his Australian selection.
The Brisbane Heat Twenty20 skipper will be Haddin's vice-captain in the PM's XI clash with Sri Lanka.
But his journey to the top hasn't been without its hardships.
Forrest's mother Vanda lost a seven-year battle with cancer when he was 18 and was sitting his HSC exams.
Just three years later, while Forrest was preparing for a Sheffield Shield game for NSW, he received a call to tell him his father Ian died from a heart attack while walking home.
Losing both parents made his Australian selection even more emotional.
But Forrest had little time to celebrate and was put through a gruelling Queensland fitness session after learning of his selection.
Most of the attention at Manuka Oval will centre around Haddin after he was rested from international duties.
Victorian Matthew Wade has been called in to take over the keeping duties.
Forrest spoke to Haddin on Tuesday and said the increased scrutiny would not affect the gloveman.
''A lot of people would think he's down in the dumps, but he sounded great and he's a positive guy,'' Forrest said.
''He'll be able to play away from the spotlight and get back to having some fun. There was one little technical thing in his batting which he's figured out and as a batsman when you figure that out it's a new lease on life and a relief.''
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