The last man to succeed as a rookie Test opener with no Sheffield Shield experience believes Nathan McSweeney can immediately feel at home at the top for Australia.
McSweeney will next week join one of the rarest groups in Australian cricket, when he walks out to open in the first Test against India in Perth.
Not since Richie Robinson in 1977 has an Australian been picked to open on debut without having at least some experience in the role in the Sheffield Shield.
Robinson lasted just one Test before being bumped down the order, before being dropped after his third match and never picked again.
But there are greater success stories.
Rick McCosker became a first-time opener in the 1974-75 Ashes, also thrown into the role with no experience as an opener when he replaced Wally Edwards for the third Test.
He scored 80 in the first innings and then became a full-time opener for both NSW and Australia for the majority of his career.
"Mentally you get prepared for it. There is not a real lot of difference required in your technique from being an opening batsman to a No.3," McCosker told AAP.
"I felt comfortable with it straight away. It's really mainly to do with your mental approach.
"You know if you're out fielding, once the innings is finished you're back out straight away. You get prepared for it.
"That really didn't take long, because you know you have to. You don't have much choice.
McCosker had made scores of 138, 136, 164 and 164 in the three Shield matches before a vacancy was made for him as an opener in the Test team, with Ian and Greg Chappell batting at No.3 and No.4.
McSweeney finds himself in a similar position, hitting two domestic centuries already this summer before top-scoring in both innings of Australia A's opening four-day clash with India A.
He then opened for the first time for Australia A last week, making two starts with 14 and 25 and earning selection over Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas.
"It's not a big issue, particularly if you're selected at the right time," McCosker said.
"It worked out pretty well, and I hope it works out for Nathan and he has a good opportunity now.
"I've watched a little bit on television in those Australia A games and you can see he has pretty good technique.
"There has been some comment from Michael Clarke to say he should be told by the selectors you have five Test matches. That would help him if they do that."
McCosker, who now volunteers by assisting seafarers in Newcastle, said he could also see merit in the long-term thinking of selecting McSweeney over a more senior opener in the Shield.
"There is so little difference in technique between an opening batsman and No.3," McCosker said.
"Picking a 25-year-old is in a way good, because if he is the right person then you have an opening batsman for the next 10 or 12 years.
"Usman Khawaja is obviously closer to the end of his career than the beginning. So they could be needing to fill two opening batsmen at the same time otherwise."
