Boom teenager Josh Hazlewood has credited the exceptional fast-bowling environment within the New South Wales camp as the catalyst behind his meteoric rise to the Australian Test squad.
The 19-year-old quick is the big selection bolter in Australia's 15-man Test squad announced on Thursday afternoon for their upcoming tour of India.
Australia will play a two-Test series against the Indians starting on October 1 in Mohali and from October 9 in Bangalore before playing a three-match one-day series.
Hazlewood, who became Australia's youngest ever one day international player when he debuted against England in June, has long been earmarked as a star of the future since making his debut with NSW in 2008.
It was expected Hazlewood might have to wait another couple of summers before being drafted into the Test squad but with Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle both unavailable through injury, the 196cm seamer is a surprise call up.
"I'm very excited and shocked at the same time," Hazlewood, who has played just six first-class games, said on Thursday.
"I got a bit of a taste of (international cricket) in England for the one-dayers but Test matches are a different story."
"I can't wait to get a feel for it and be around the group and learn a lot off the quicks."
"I found out this afternoon just before training so there was a bit more emphasis on my bowling...I'm just very excited and it's a great opportunity."
Hazlewood said having the likes of former Test stars Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken as team-mates at state level had been a major reason behind his rapid progression into the international arena.
"Stuart Clark's been very good so far throughout the year and with him being (NSW) skipper it's helped the quicks a lot," Hazlewood said on Thursday.
"Just being around with the team with him (Clark) and obviously Binger (Brett Lee), Bracken and Dougy (Bollinger) when he's been here has been a big help."
"They are just very experienced players and it's good to learn from them."
"Last year it was a bit nerve-wracking going up to guys like that and asking for advice but now that I've been around for a year or two it's a lot easier to go up to those blokes."
"They make you feel welcome...they were in the same position early in their careers so (they) know how you feel."
Asked about testing his skill against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virenda Sehwag in India's start-studded batting line-up, Hazlewood said: "I've only ever watched them on TV and things like that so I'll definitely be talking to Troy (bowling coach Troy Cooley) about fast bowling and the other quicks."
"They're the very best and their top order is very hard to bowl against."
"(The conditions) are obviously a lot slower than Australia and suits the spinners a lot more but if you hit the lengths and are in the right area you get your rewards."
As well as Hazlewood, South Australian quick Peter George was another surprise selection while opener Phillip Hughes, who is coming back from shoulder surgery in May has also been recalled.
But wicketkeeper Brad Haddin hasn't recovered from an elbow injury in time to earn a spot, with Tasmanian Tim Paine to resume behind the stumps.