Steve Smith delivered an early message to world cricket that he will again be a force, with a bruising knock against New Zealand in Australia's second World Cup warm-up clash.
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While the Black Caps are undermanned, the manner in which Smith went about his unbeaten 89 off 77 balls in guiding the home side to 6-277 at Allan Border Field on Wednesday should have rival nations nervous ahead of the premier tournament in England.
The former captain, who returned to the side on Monday after a year-long ban, crunched four sixes and four boundaries. While he appears more still at the crease than he has ever been, the orthodox - and not so orthodox - strokes were still there in abundance.
This included a front-foot clip almost on one knee for six over mid-wicket off paceman Blair Tickner, and another where his bat became almost a protective blade to a short ball and resulted in a bunted two through mid-on.
There were fewer supporters at the picturesque ground than there had been on a public-holiday Monday, but those who attended found Smith in fine form.
He had made 22 on Monday and clearly wanted to produce something more substantial. He came in at No.5 and soon found his groove, impressing selection chairman Trevor Hohns with his boundaries and ability to manipulate the field with deft touches and singles.
The same could not be said for David Warner, who returned to an opening role after being used at No.3 on Monday, when he made 39.
Warner was dismissed for a duck on Wednesday, caught at cover driving off paceman Doug Bracewell. Understandably unhappy about this, he immediately set off to the centre-wicket net on the adjoining oval for a series of throw-downs.
Skipper Aaron Finch and and the pugnacious Warner are seen as Australia's best opening combination - a point made clear by former selector Mark Waugh this week - and helped lead the nation to World Cup victory in 2015. But there is still support from within team management for a Finch and Usman Khawaja tandem heading into the sport's showpiece event.
Khawaja, who opened on Monday, returned to No.3 and made 56 on Wednesday, scoring four boundaries before he was caught brilliantly at short mid-wicket by Jimmy Neesham. There has been considerable debate as to where Khawaja should bat, for he was in superb touch as an opener last month in series against India and Pakistan and is at his best when starting against fast bowling.
Shaun Marsh, in a likely battle with Khawaja for the vacant batting spot, made 28 at No.4 while Glenn Maxwell made a statement of his own with a dashing 52 off 44 balls, adding some much-needed life through the middle overs.
Maxwell, who was rested from Monday's clash, thumped 52 off 44 balls including two sixes and six boundaries, reinforcing why he will have a key role in England.
Mitchell Starc, returning after a three-month absence through injury, took the new ball and struck with his third ball when a searing yorker upended Hamish Rutherford.
The left-arm spearhead had not played since tearing his left pectoral muscle in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Canberra.
He lifted his workrate in Brisbane and came off his full run-up last week, and was passed fit to return against the Black Caps.
Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins and Jason Behrendorff - all of whom will head to England for the World Cup - were rested.
The two nations will have a third and final practice match on Friday, with Australia to leave for England via a stop in Gallipoli just hours after the final ball.
They will have two practice matches in England - against the host nation and Sri Lanka - before the tournament opener on June 1.
- SMH/The Age
