Jonathan Trott is thrilled to be amid the euphoria of a home Ashes series, having had late involvement in the 2009 triumph.
The number three batsman has helped put England 2-0 up in the Investec Series with 106 runs in four innings, a slightly disappointing tally given his average of just below 49 in Tests.
It is almost four years since Trott's Test debut, which came in the 2009 Ashes decider at The Oval where scores of 41 and 119 from number five aided a win that saw the urn regained.
While Trott will not get ahead of himself in this rubber, he is happy to be part of the sporting event currently foremost in the public eye.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk, he said: “You feel the intensity and the public perception of the game grows a little bit. I suppose maybe that's because there's no football at the moment.
“It's something it's fantastic to be part of and really, really pleasing to be 2-0 up with the opportunity hopefully to go 3-0 up at Old Trafford.
“It's important that we maintain our focus as a team and remember what we do well when we play well, not really focus on that we're 2-0 up and try to sit back and relax a bit.”
Trott, who shone in England's 2010/11 Ashes victory Down Under, crucially made first-innings runs at Trent Bridge and Lord's.
His scores of 48, nought, 58 and nought have left him on the winning side both times.
“The first two Tests, it couldn't have gone any better really: a very exciting game at Nottingham and a good win at Lord's,” he reflected.
“(We're) looking forward to Old Trafford. Obviously (we) have a few days off to refresh and get the mind off cricket for a little while and then refocus when we regroup up in Manchester.
“(These are) exciting times for English cricket, but we've also got to keep our feet on the ground and remember the three Tests left. We'd like to finish the series and maintain our form.”
The rubber next week moves on to Old Trafford, where Trott's sole Manchester Test came in 2010 versus Bangladesh with a return of three runs in his only innings.
Since then the ground has been redeveloped, including the wicket being rotated by 90 degrees.
“The wicket's obviously changed round to a different direction,” he added. “I've played one or two games there, ODIs.
“It's always been a nice ground and it's always been good for runs so hopefully it continues to be that way.”
Jonathan Trott speaks exclusively to ecb.co.uk about the Investec Ashes Series