Josh Hazlewood is used to being judged by coaches and captains but not so much chairmen, admitting Cricket Australia's search for new leaders took him out of his comfort zone.
Hazlewood and Mitch Marsh have been appointed vice-captains of the Test side.
Selectors settled on David Warner's replacement some six months after the banned batsman was stripped of the vice-captaincy.
The governing body broke with tradition by naming two vice-captains while the method it used to select Hazlewood and Marsh was also unprecedented.
Players voted on which of their teammates were leadership material.
This shortlist, which also included uncapped players Aaron Finch, Travis Head and Alex Carey, was then cut down after a formal interview.
Hazlewood and Marsh won over a panel consisting of selectors Trevor Hohns and Greg Chappell, CA chairman David Peever, CA board member Mark Taylor, coach Justin Langer, team psychologist Michael Lloyd and CA high-performance boss Pat Howard.
The paceman and allrounder both spelled out their vision for the team, highlighting the cultural changes they'd like to help impart while also stressing how they wanted to support skipper Tim Paine.
"It was pretty nerve-racking to be honest," Hazlewood recalled.
"I'd probably rather be out there in front of 50,000.
"A few greats of the game (were on the panel) and it's not something we do every day.
"It was a little bit different ... but a good process to go through. I guess we learned a bit from it, each individual that did it, and we'll be a bit more comfortable next time we do it."
Marsh expressed similar sentiments in Dubai.
"With the calibre (of people) in the room, it was quite daunting," Marsh said.
Hazlewood will miss next month's two-Test series against Pakistan because of a back injury.
The paceman's comeback game was against David Warner in grade cricket last weekend while he is hoping to return for NSW in Monday's one-day clash with Queensland.
If all goes to plan, Hazlewood's next game for Australia will be an ODI against South Africa in Perth on November 4.
The 27-year-old should have plenty of time to build match fitness before Australia's four-Test series against India starts at Adelaide Oval on December 6.
"There's a bit of an underdog mentality going into this summer. India are the No.1 side in the world," Hazlewood said.
"Even though they've never won in Australia, you could see them as favourites.
"That will bring out our best cricket."
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