Steve Smith sounded another ominous warning and Mitchell Starc sent a message with the ball as Australia secured an ODI series win over England with a 72-run victory at the SCG.
On the same day Josh Hazlewood became Australia's 28th ODI captain while filling in for the rested Pat Cummins, Smith hit 94 from 114 balls to set up Australia's total of 8-280.
Starc (4-47) then struck twice in the first over of England's innings, proving he is still one of the world's best white-ball bowlers.
And while James Vince (60) and Sam Billings (71) put the visitors back in the chase, Adam Zampa (4-45) and Starc killed off any chance of an England win to have the visitors all out for 208.
Starc's output came after he was controversially dropped for Australia's last group match in the T20 World Cup against Afghanistan, after losing the new ball earlier in the tournament.
The left-armer bowled with fire at the SCG and swung the ball early, getting Jason Roy (duck) caught behind and beating Dawid Malan (duck) to take off stump in the first over.
Zampa also looked impressive, first bowling Moeen Ali (10) and then going through a charging Billings to help seal the series with a match to play.
The triumph comes as a significant confident boost for Australia's white-ball side ahead of next year's 50-over World Cup, after the most recent Twenty20 demise.
Beyond Starc's lethal bowling, it will be Smith's outing that will excite Australia most.
After declaring he felt the best he had in six years in the series opener on Thursday night in Adelaide, Smith looked measured and controlled again on Saturday.
He barely gave a chance until he was dismissed in the deep, with his altered grip and reduced movement at the crease syncing up the motion between his hands and feet.
Smith worked the ball nicely through the leg side throughout and at one stage hit Sam Curran over square leg for six.
But his best shot was a perfect cover drive off Ali, exemplifying the kind of stroke Smith believes he is playing better with the technical changes.
Smith now has scores of 61, 105, 80 (not out) and 94 in his past four ODIs, with one more hit to come against England in Melbourne on Tuesday before the first Test against West Indies, which starts on November 30.
Smith's innings on Saturday also formed part of 101-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne, whose 58 marked a return to form after a recent lean run for Queensland.
Mitch Marsh then hit an even 50 to help Australia to a competitive score, after Adil Rashid (3-57) threatened to give England control when he had Labuschagne and Alex Carey (0) out sweeping in consecutive balls.
AAP/ABC
