After failing to convince a Brisbane school to recruit an 11-year-old Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne now gets to call him an Australian teammate.
First meeting 14 years ago, the pair could be batting together at Optus Stadium as Australia attempt to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
McSweeney will open the batting on debut as Australia's 467th men's Test cricketer, with his former Queensland teammate to follow at No.3.
Labuschagne is excited and thrilled for someone he has become strong friends with.
"I actually first met Nathan when he was 11," Labuschagne recalled.
"He was doing trials at Brisbane State High, and I had just finished Year 12, and I was helping them select some young kids.
"I actually went out and said, 'mate, you need to get this guy'. And we didn't.
"He ended up going to Nudgee College, so we've got a long history, and he's a fantastic player."
Seeking more opportunities after managing just five Sheffield Shield matches for Queensland across three seasons, McSweeney moved to South Australia in 2021.
Ahead of this season, the 25-year-old was promoted to captain, thriving in leadership to produce career-best form.
"I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about his journey and how he's got here," Labuschagne said of McSweeney.
"It's been really good to see him develop and grow his game, and our relationship's always been close from the days where he was at Queensland, and even when he was younger."
If Australia are able to win a series against India for the first time since 2014-15, they will need Labuschagne firing.
After making four centuries across five innings at the end of 2022, the 30-year-old has added just one more since - 111 in Manchester in July 2023.
In Australia's previous Test back in March against New Zealand, Labuschagne hit a vital 90 in a sign he was recapturing his best.
Labuschagne will be hoping to keep his impeccable record at Optus Stadium intact, having scored three centuries at 103.80 across just three Tests at the ground.
