It was difficult for Brett Lee to gauge precisely what was the biggest thrill of his triumphant spell of destructive fast bowling that turned the fortunes of the third Test in Durban.
The exultation of claiming his 200th Test wicket on Sunday evening was all but overshadowed by the joy of a memorable five-wicket haul that included a remarkable final return of 4-5 in the space of 22 balls.
The last of those five wickets, South Africa tailender Makhaya Ntini for a first-ball duck, ensured Lee will begin his next spell of bowling on the cusp of his first Test hat-trick.
But perhaps most satisfying of all was the fact that the 30-year-old achieved all those feats under the approving eye of his boyhood hero, former South African fast bowler Allan Donald.
"Definitely my idol growing up was Allan Donald," Lee said. "I started wearing the white sweat band when I was a kid watching the great Allan Donald bowl, but it was just the way he went about his business.
"He had that aggression when he needed it and then he could go back and bowl his line and length. He's a fantastic role model for the kids.
"I've been chatting with AD (Donald) on a few occasions. He's a class act, a bloke who I thought had the perfect action."
Donald, the man who became known as 'White Lightning', was at Kingsmead in his role as a commentator with a cable TV network and would have been impressed by the Australian quick's transformation.
A year ago, Lee was rated as the fourth-best fast bowler in Australia and was serving the final stretch of his 18-month exile from Test cricket as a result of injury and indifferent form.
Since he was recalled for the opening Ashes Test against England at Lord's last July, Lee has established himself as the best-performed quick in the world.
His first innings demolition job in Durban gave him 63 wickets at an average of 29.67 from 13 1/2 matches since his recall.
Only his Australian team-mate Shane Warne (81 wickets from the same number of Tests) has been more prolific over that eight-month period.
Now Lee has also joined the true elite of Australia's fast bowling fraternity, becoming only the ninth paceman in the nation's 129-year Test history to reach the 200-wicket mark.
"To get that 200 milestone, it does mean a lot," Lee said.
"Taking a hundredth (against England in Sydney in 2003), you don't even dream about it.
"But to take 200 Test wickets for Australia, it's a pretty special moment. I'm not a person who sets goals as far as wickets per match or wickets to end up after I'm finished (playing).
"I try to set myself a few little goals each match, whether it be to get a couple in the top order, hopefully you can get a few down the bottom as well."
Lee's sole international hat-trick was achieved at the same ground in Durban, against Kenya during Australia's unblemished World Cup campaign of 2003.
To repeat that feat in a Test match would require an extraordinary coincidence, given that he removed South Africa captain Graeme Smith with the first ball of the first innings.
"It would be nice if I could take that wicket from the first ball of this match and bring it over (to the second innings)," Lee said.
- ANDREW RAMSEY