At the Galle International Cricket Stadium, Connolly received Baggy Green number 471 from former batter Simon Katich and replaced off-spinner Todd Murphy in Australia\u2019s playing eleven. Connolly, the spin-bowling allrounder, is yet to take a wicket in four first-class appearances, and was surrounded by his parents Shane and Donna for the special moment in his cricketing career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shane himself was a former player and coach with WA Premier Cricket club Scarborough, the place from where Cooper rose to make his debut for Australia for all formats since September last year, with the Test debut completing his meteoric rise.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI like to think he\u2019ll play how he always plays and take the game on and be positive. He won\u2019t die wondering. Seeing your son get presented a Baggy Green, by one of WA\u2019s greats in Simon Katich... it\u2019s unreal. Sensational,\u201d said Shane on Channel Seven on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Donna, Cooper\u2019s mother, said her son getting his debut Test cap is just the reward for someone who had set his sights on playing for Australia as a young kid. \u201cHe used to always be with a bat and a ball.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt didn\u2019t matter where he was, he\u2019d be getting throwdowns from people. He used to always say he wanted to play Test cricket... (from) probably around 6, 7 or 8. We\u2019re really proud of him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cooper also becomes the fifth player to debut for Australia since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series began after Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis. \"From what I've seen in the nets, he bowls some really good balls. He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here, and that's kind of all you've got to do in these conditions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Just try and bowl as many good balls in a good area, and just let the conditions take over. I think he's only bowled (16) first-class overs back in Australia but it's entirely different the way you bowl (here), and the way he does bowl and the way it comes out suits him quite nicely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Cooper also becomes the fifth player to debut for Australia since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series began after Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis. \"From what I've seen in the nets, he bowls some really good balls. He was pretty consistent where he was bowling in Dubai and in the nets here, and that's kind of all you've got to do in these conditions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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