Beau Webster’s phone has been running hot over the past 24 hours but the Australian debutant was very mindful of knowing his place at the SCG on Friday.

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His brilliant slips catch to snare Yashasvi Jaiswal off the bowling of Scott Boland was an ideal start and to add the legend Virat Kohli before lunch elevated the experience.

There were times when the all-rounder hoped captain Pat Cummins would allow him to keep the ball when bowling, so much was he loving the movement he was getting on a pitch that was doing plenty.

And he would have loved Nathan Lyon to hold on to the tricky chance offered by Ravindra Jadeja in the gully that would have given him a maiden Test wicket.

But there will be another chance in this Test, perhaps as soon as late on Saturday afternoon depending on how Australia bats in its first innings.

“It was a sharp chance. It wasn’t a very good ball. It was a bit of a half-volley but it managed to find the edge,” he said.

“But no, I certainly won’t be bringing that up with a man who’s got 500 wickets.”

Just to be out there with the Australian team has been a thrill after a whirlwind 24 hours which saw him named in place of Mitch Marsh, with plane tickets arranged for family members to fly from the Apple Isle and former great Mark Waugh on hand to present him with his “Baggy Green” cap.

“It’s been massive, as you can imagine,” Webster said. “My phone’s been blowing up (over) the last 24 hours with plenty of messages of support from not only in Tasmania, but from all over the world. I’ve played a bit of cricket in England now, and (I’ve had) a lot of support from over there.

“But … it’s always nice to come from a small town, or a small place in Tasmania, and represent the country. There hasn’t been too many over the journey. So to be able to be one of those few is really proud.

“I love Tasmania. I’m Tasmanian through and through and to be able to … put on a show for them and put them on the map and really do what I can for the state. It makes me really proud.”

Webster finished with 0-29 from 13 overs, a load bigger than Marsh managed in his most recent 28 Tests culminating in Australia’s thrilling win at the MCG.

He was not the only one whose nerves were jangling, with Waugh also feeling a tingle about being asked to present the baggy green to Webster.

The Fox Cricket expert, who played 128 Tests for Australia over 11 years, was asked by Australian coach Andrew McDonald on the eve of the match.

The Sydneysider said it reminded him again just how special the prized Australian cricket cap is and he was delighted to be able to have a role in the Tasmanian’s special day.

“It is special. Last night, I was just at home and I got a text from Andrew McDonald just asking me if I would do it and, obviously, I said ‘yes’” Waugh told foxsports.com.au.

“It was pretty nerve wracking. I was thinking all night about what to say and I did a bit of homework on him, (working) on just a few particulars.

“I didn’t want to make it too serious, but … I just sort of wanted to say how great it is to get selected. You think of the people who have helped along the way. That’s all part of the ‘Baggy Green’ and their input along the way.”

Things have changed since Waugh, who was 25 when he debuted with a glorious century against England in Adelaide in 1991, finally received the call up for national Test honours.

He arrived in Adelaide in place of his brother, Steve Waugh, and recalls being shown to a room to pick up the cap and the rest of the Australian paraphernalia.

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor initiated the “Baggy Green” ceremony in his tenure and Steve Waugh refined it by asking former players of a similar discipline to do so.

Other skippers have had their own variations.

Waugh, while carving out a distinguished career as a No.4, was a valuable all-rounder who secured 59 Test wickets to go with his 8,029 runs.

“I basically just … went back to my first game where I got 100, so I said, ‘You know, you’ve got a bit to live up too,’” he said.

“But I (also) said, ‘Sometimes when you’re actually playing, you can sort of take it for granted how great it is to play for Australia and I said once I stopped playing, you realise it is one of the best things you’ll ever do in your life, to play cricket for your country. So I said, ‘Make sure you enjoy it.’”

Waugh, who was a superb slips fielder, joked that he told Webster that it was not just with the bat and ball that he needed to contribute.

“I said, ‘Mate, don’t drop any catches. Just take them all when they come your way,’” Waugh quipped.

“But he’s just a good cricketer, a good all-round cricketer. He catches really well. His bowling is handy, whether it’s spin or its seam. And he’s got the runs on the board, so he deserves his spot and hopefully he has a long career.

“You never know. I said there’s always ups and downs when you play for Australia and, you know, I was dropped a couple times, so it happens. So you have got to make the most of every opportunity, basically.”