The Lancashire seamer destroyed Essex in the 1996 NatWest Trophy with an amazing spell of 6-18. Tomorrow he takes on Derbyshire at Lord's, aiming to cap a successful season with another match-winning performance, but knowing that what he achieved two years ago was unique.
``It was a one-off,'' said the 24-year-old Earby paceman. ``A once in a lifetime thing. The conditions were right, I bowled well, everything came together at the right moment.
``There have been occasions when I have performed just as well without getting the same reward, and I'm sure there will be in the future hopefully not tomorrow.''
Chapple saw most of his team mates winning England tour spots this week, but claimed: ``I'm not disappointed. I wasn't really expecting to get in. After all it's a couple of years since people said I was on the fringe of the Test team, and things have changed since.
``Maybe another good display at Lord's will make the selectors take notice, but it will be too late for this winter and anyway I'm quite looking forward to being at home again. I didn't go anywhere last winter and I came into this season feeling fit and fresh.''
It certainly made a difference. Chapple had a dismal time in 1997, discovering too late that he had been suffering from a hernia problem which led to a close-season op. Over the winter he built up his strength, helped by the new training regime of coach Dav Whatmore, and this year has edged into the country's top 20 bowling charts, despite Lancashire's programme being badly hit by the weather.
He was perhaps unlucky not to squeeze into England's provisional World Cup squad of 37, but the selectors have left room to add - and Lord's tomorrow could again be the stage for Chapple to produce his best.