Glenn Rogers, being one of life's good citizens, recently tried to be a donor at a blood bank in Brisbane and was turned down because of his medical history.
It was a reminder, for this genial Australian, of the period five years ago when his dreams of participating for Scotland in the 2007 World Cup were jeopardised after he contracted typhoid on a tour of Kenya.
At the time, the then Stenhousemuir spinner told me: "I had terrible diarrhoea, bouts of vomiting, my temperature shot through the roof and I was nearly on fire at one stage. I lost 7kgs in as many days and joked to my team mates that, at least if my cricketing career was over, that I would be able to get a job as a jockey."
Rogers was always an engaging character, a bright-eyed enthusiast who reacted with equanimity to Kipling's twin impostors, so it was hardly surprising that we should have such a wide-ranging chat when our paths crossed again last weekend. He can look back now on his Scotland career and declare, in matter-of-fact fashion: "A few more wins would have been nice."
He can even laugh at himself, in recalling the circumstances which saw him suffer a serious injury, following the dismissal of Ireland's Kevin O'Brien, during the T20 qualifying event. "Tearing my calf muscle, whilst celebrating the wicket, was easily the most embarrassing thing which happened in my Scotland career."
But, above all, he seemed genuinely pleased at his adopted country's recent resurgence and keeps in touch with members of the present Caledonian ensemble.
"It still follows me around today, but, looking back, I was well looked after," said Rogers, who made his Scotland debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong in 2006.
"It is just a fact of travelling and I am more careful about what I eat in other countries these days. Basically, I am just thankful that the Scottish selectors stuck by me, because I was still suffering quite badly while I was packing my bags, before we flew out to Barbados. Mercifully, though, I was back to full health by the time that we got to St Kitts [where the team was based]."
It was, of course, a sobering tournament for Craig Wright's men, who lost all three of their matches, and Rogers recalled that the mood in the dressing room at the climax of a heavy defeat to the Netherlands was one of his and the whole team's lowest points of the campaign, which had commenced with the Scots sweeping to ICC Trophy glory in Dublin two years earlier.
Yet, as he recounted, any sense of tristesse was often replaced by a giddy whirl of triumphalism during his spell with the Scots, which lasted until 2009. "The World Cup in the Caribbean was one of my biggest highlights, although our on-field performances were a little disappointing," said Rogers.
"Another huge highlight was being involved with the Saltires in beating Lancashire at Old Trafford, because we held our nerve in that game and defended well with our bowling and fielding. It was also a fantastic opportunity to play at Lord's for both Scotland and a European XI and getting rid of [the Australian opener] Phil Hughes, with a cracker of a delivery, when he was 80-odd in the FPT [Friends Provident Trophy] still sticks out in my mind as well."
Rogers has never taken himself too seriously and doesn't beat himself up over thoughts of what might have been. Why should he? He has two fit and healthy sons, Cameron and Daniel – who are now 5 and 4 – and, at 34, is continuing to parade his skills in the game he loves.
"I am currently playing in a T20 event with my old club, South Brisbane. It is a "Sunday comp", and is more social than serious, although there are some former state players kicking about," said Rogers, who formed an effective partnership with Majid Haq and eventually participated in 13 ODIs, with a best bowling analysis of two for 22.
"My batting has improved, with no training, which is different from when I used to play in Scotland. At that time, I averaged 100 with the bat and about the same with the ball! I am also doing some coaching, locally, and I really hope that my two boys take up cricket and return to play in Scotland, so their old man will be able to tag along for the ride.
"I always try to keep tabs on how the Scottish lads are doing and that was a great victory over the UAE, with "Berro" in the runs again. I have been delighted to watch the rise of guys such as Preston Mommsen, Matthew Parker and Richie, and I was really pleased to see Majid make his maiden first-class hundred [against the Netherlands] in Aberdeen last summer.
"I always loved it when Maj and I were bowling in tandem. Spin is a major part of cricket and Majid deserves all his recent success. In fact, it has been tremendous to see the team putting some wins together and I hope that continues."
Rogers was part of a Scottish collective, which didn't always make headlines for the right reasons. But he kept rolling with the punches and demonstrating his obvious joy at gaining chances to joust with giants of the game.
He may have trouble giving blood for the foreseeable future. But he was always happy to shed it on Scotland's behalf.