The 24-year-old wore the baggy green cap for the first time in Brisbane's oppressive heat for the second Test against India where apart from taking seven wickets – his haul included M.S.Dohni's prized scalp in both innings – Hazlewood chimed in as Australia's No.11 batsman with an unconquered 32.

After making his debut for NSW as a 17-year-old tearaway in 2008 and then Australia's one-day team two years later, his career was frustrated by a series of injuries which included stress fractures and other strains.

However, as he prepared for the upcoming tours of the West Indies and England, Hazlewood – whose home town boasts a population of 450  – said he was comfortable to hear 2014/15 described as his "breakthrough".

"It definitely was," he said. "It seems a while ago now but starting off by bowling well in the one-day series against South Africa allowed me to kick my summer off on the right foot and then, to get picked for the Tests, is still special; unbelievable, really.

"I feel I belong in both formats [for Australia] now. I don't mind admitting at the beginning of the summer I fel quite nervous around the guys and wasn't so sure if I belonged.

"But as time went on, and I started performing, I felt as though I belonged.

"I never lacked self-confidence or belief, it was more a matter of just getting an opportunity or, at least, an extended run of playing cricket because in the past I've stopped and started and couldn't get momentum.

"I think knowing I'd be playing in the next couple of games took a bit of pressure off me because it allowed for me to relax and to do my own thing."

While his NSW teammate Mitchell Starc provided plenty of inspiration by dominating the World Cup, Hazlewood said he benefited from being able to call upon "the original Mitch" – Mitchell Johnson – for advice in tight situations.

"Those last three games in the World Cup were probably the most nervous I've ever been as a cricketer. I hadn't ever experienced that before and it was interesting, a feeling of excitment and nervousness at the same time.

"I was lucky to have had the experienced guys, especially Mitchell Johnson as a fast bowler, around and being able to feed off his experience. He led from the front throughout the summer and I followed."

Hazlewood said his immediate priority in the formative stages of his Test career was to absorb as much as he could over the next few months from the likes of veteran campaigners Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle as well as to take notes of his own experiences.

"I'm looking forward to the next two tours, I haven't been to the West Indies and that's something I'm excited about and then there's the Ashes," he said.

"I've been spending time in Brisbane [at the National Cricket Centre] building up and getting ready for it. I only had three weeks off [after the World Cup final] so it's pretty much been smooth sailing as we quicks build up our [work] loads."