New Zealand bowling ace Tim Southee admitted that he was a little bit surprised after being informed that he would be in the Black Caps XI during warm-ups before the first Test against Australia began in Brisbane on Thursday.
He was given the nod ahead of the more experienced Kyle Mills and celebrated with figures of 4-63 as Australia was dismissed for 214 just before stumps. New Zealand was seven without loss at the end of the day.
Australian fans may be unfamiliar with the youngster who only recently graduated from school, where he said he studied 'rugby and cricket', but Southee is no stranger to big-game performances.
Southee claimed figures of 5-55 and clubbed 70 off 44 balls on his Test debut against England earlier this year.
The paceman was hesitant to call this performance better than his debut, but nominated the wickets of Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting as highlights of his career.
"Probably either Hayden or Ponting, they're up there, two of the best players in the world and to get them early on was something special," he reflected.
Southee, who lives on his family sheep and beef farm in Whangarei, credited the way his side swung the ball early on as a key to routing the home side for a low total.
"I think we had to make the most of the conditions early on, on a bowler-friendly wicket, and I think we did," he said.
"We bowled fairly well as a unit and the catching was fantastic."
Australian batsman Michael Clarke, whose 98 was far and away the best effort of his side, was impressed with all the New Zealand bowlers, but in particular 19-year-old Southee.
"He looks pretty good, he swung the ball away from the right-handers and then managed to take one away off the seam to the lefties," he said.
"I think he's certainly got some talent, I think they've all got some talent, we knew coming in today that we were going to have to bat well."
Clarke was full of mixed emotions after being the only batsman to surpass 35.
"If you had have told me I was going to get 98 this morning I would have been rapt," Clarke said.
"But obviously getting that close, though, and the way Stuey Clark hung in there for me, I'm disappointed I didn't make a 100."
"But at the end of the day, the team's total is way more important, and with 214 on the board I think we did pretty well, we hung in there and stuck it out on that wicket."
The Australian vice-captain was optimistic his bowlers could do a job on a Gabba green-top which has been underprepared due to the recent rain.
"Yeah, there was a bit of seam there, a bit more grass on the wicket than what we've been used to, but at the end of the day, 214 on the board is a pretty positive today," he said.
"You'd like to make 350 every day you bat, but after getting sent in, I think we can certainly take some positives out of that."
"There's some seam there and I think the new ball is going to be crucial for us tomorrow."
"Tomorrow we're going to have to be patient, but I think once we get that first wicket, we'll get on a bit of a roll and hopefully get into the Kiwis' middle order."
Clarke suggested he had to constantly grind in his 217-ball knock that lasted the better part of five hours, while wickets tumbled at a swift pace around him.
"I never really felt that comfortable through my whole innings today, I felt like I had to work really hard the whole time."