Cricket-loving Aussie darts thrower Damon Heta reckons discretion is the better part of valour as he's decided against any flamboyant Ashes-themed walk-on antics that might get boisterous English crowds on his back at the world championships.
The popular Perth showman, known for his theatrical entrances to the oche, delighted in winding up the world matchplay crowd in Blackpool two years ago during the Ashes in full Aussie cricket kit, complete with bat and baggy green, and, naturally, got right royally jeered, even if good-naturedly.
But "The Heat" was in much more sober mood before his fine 3-1 first-round win over Irishman Steve Lennon, evidently feeling a boozed-up crowd at London's Alexandra Palace might not have taken as kindly to being reminded of England's current Ashes plight Down Under.
"The Blackpool crowd is a darts crowd, so they're going to get my banter," reflected Heta.
"But the people here - last game on a Friday night, football people, half of them probably not cricket people, what are they gonna think when an Australian guy comes out and starts talking about the cricket? They're gonna feed it to me!
"So obviously, I'm gonna play that down a little. I didn't want that sort of attention. I just wanted to get the job done.
"I'm more than happy how the cricket's going, don't get me wrong ... hopefully the English can make a game of it in the third one ... but I'm here to do a job, and I don't want to interact too much about it.
"I've got friends and stuff who've got enough banter as it is, never mind a crowd full of people feeding it to me. I don't need that attention at the moment."
World No.16 Heta, who jokes he was a "see-ball, hit-ball" batter and a "quality fielder" before he gave up cricket to concentrate on the arrows, hasn't been in the best of form the last few months but looked against Lennon as if he might be back to something like his best.
The first of the four Australians in action, the 38-year-old English-based player didn't repeat his heroics of last year when his nine-dart leg against Rob Woodhouse won both him and a punter in the crowd Stg 60,000 ($A120,000) from the tournament sponsors.
But he's still on the hunt for the "insane" first million-pound winner's cheque, with his second round obstacle being either veteran Dutch five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld or Swiss Stefan Bellmont on Sunday.
Victory in that match will more than likely set him up to play former champion Rob Cross in the third round with reigning champ Luke Littler doubtless waiting in the fourth.
Teenage tournament favourite Littler's next obstacle in the second round is Welshman David Davies, a National Health Service area manager who's had to book time off work to fulfil the fixture.
The Australian bid continues on Monday evening (Tuesday AEDT) with veteran Simon Whitlock opening his bid against England's Connor Scutt.
The action continued on Sunday with a 33-year-old New Zealand truck driver Jonny Tata earning a terrific 3-0 win on debut against former European champion Ritchie Edhouse.
