Phil Jaques might be almost 11,000 miles away but that does not mean he has forgotten about his now former Nottinghamshire team-mates.
The Australian flew back Down Under after ending his spell on a losing note as Notts were beaten by Warwickshire this week.
That was still enough to take them to the top of the County Championship though.
Now, Jaques will be willing them on to lift the title for the first time in four years as he uses modern technology to keep up with their progress and offer support.
He said: "I'll absolutely keep tabs on the scores from home. We've got a WhatsApp group so I'll be on that and sending the guys a text.
"They're a great bunch. There's a lot of world class players there. It certainly makes for some keen nets and some good practice.
"The boys have been fantastic to me. They've taken me in as one of their own.
"It's great to be in a team that is winning. That winning culture is very strong.
"There's no big egos in the dressing room.
"We all enjoy each others' success and support each other.
"I'll be checking the scores all the time and hoping the guys can get the results.
"We'll be right in the hunt for the title. We are in a strong position but we'll have to stay at the top of our game.
"Guys will have to stand up and be counted. Those world class players will have to come to the fore."
The 35-year-old initially signed a short-team deal as cover for Alex Hales in the belief he would go to the Indian Premier League, although he ended up remaining with Notts.
That was extended slightly to encompass the first 11 Championship games, with Jaques scoring 894 runs at an average of 49.66, putting him third in the Division One run scoring charts.
He also scored 33 runs in three Twenty20 games and admits he was happy with his First Class efforts.
"It's been a half-decent year for me with the bat. I'm feeling like I've got good rhythm with my batting," he said.
"I'm pretty happy with my tally but I'm more happy with us being top of the table.
"Hopefully I can come back here next season with us being champions. I would have liked a couple more hundreds.
"There have been five or six 50s and two hundreds. A couple more would have been nice but I can't complain at nearly 900 runs."
Jaques will return to Trent Bridge next summer until mid-June but he admits it was tough to leave on Wednesday with Notts in the thick of the title race.
Speaking shortly before flying home, he said: "It's a wrench to go. It's a weird feeling because on one hand I'm looking forward to going home but on the other it will be disappointing to leave the guys at such a crucial time of the year.
"There is still a lot of cricket to play. Hopefully the boys can get the job done after I go."
The 35-year-old is not the only Notts player to have enjoyed significant success with the bat this summer.
Samit Patel has made more runs than anyone in Division One with 934. Riki Wessels is fourth with 813 and Alex Hales (724), James Taylor (665) and Chris Read (567) are all in the top 20.
Former Yorkshire batsman Jaques says that has been a key factor in Notts going top as the batsmen give the bowlers plenty of support.
"We've been regularly making 400. I think we've got the most batting points in the country," he said.
"That says a lot about the quality of batting in the changing room.
"Alex Hales has been in great form, Samit has been unbelievable and Riki has been great, as have James Taylor and Chris Read at seven.
"We're all in there with the top batters in the scoring charts.
"That bodes really well when you have batters who are consistent week in, week out – it gives your bowlers something to get at."
He is now hoping the experience of playing 11 Tests and six ODIs for his country, on top of scoring 16,000 First Class runs, will help him land a major job back home.
If that does not come off, he will continue in his role in charge of Sydney grade cricket side Sutherland.
He said: "I've put in for a few coaching positions. I'm waiting by the phone to hear back!
"I do have work to go back to. I've been player/head coach of Sutherland for two years.
"I've put in for a couple of roles with New South Wales Cricket and I'm waiting to hear back on them but I've got Sutherland to go back to."
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