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Michael Neser waited 26 games for his first Baggy Green - but took just two balls to claim one of the most popular Test wickets for Australia.
Michael Neser has only played two days of Test cricket but he may already have captured one of Australia's most popular wickets in the last decade.
For so long the next in line and after 26 matches in Australia's squad without a Baggy Green, Neser ended his long wait with a wicket from just his second ball on Friday night.
Bowling first-change under lights with the pink ball at the Adelaide Oval, the Queenslander had Haseeb Hameed pushing forward in front of his body and caught at mid-on to help leave England 2-17 when storms stopped play.
It was the second big act of the night for the bowling allrounder, after a big-hitting 35 from 24 balls helped set up Australia's day-two declaration at 9-473.
Neser is one of the most popular members of Australia's squad, after so long on the road and being Queensland's best with bat and ball at times in recent years.
"I think (you could see how excited we were by the fact) Mitchell Swepson got to the huddle before some of the people in the field," Queensland teammate Marnus Labuschagne said.
"We're all so happy for him. What he's done for the last four years in Shield cricket. Averaging something like 19 with a ball. He's just worked hard.
"It's just so exciting to see him take that first one, which can always be the toughest one.
"It just gave him the confidence you can come back tomorrow and just lock into his work. I think this wicket really suits his bowling."
Neser's story has been well told in the past week, particularly that he was set to miss out again in Adelaide before Pat Cummins' COVID brush.
But Labuschagne believed that the last-minute call-up could have been a benefit psychologically, especially as he himself got his first Ashes chance in 2019 as a mid-match concussion sub.
"There is a positive outlook on it," Labuschagne said.
"Not having three or four days simmering on it, working out how you are going to have your first wicket or first run.
"He got told the night before that he might, but he still only had one night. But I think it definitely helps.
"I know I didn't have time to think about Jofra (Archer) charging in, and all the circumstances and things that go through your head as a batter."
Both the early breakthroughs from Neser and Mitchell Starc have left Joe Root and Dawid Malan with a long fight ahead to avoid England going down 2-0 in the Ashes after Adelaide.
