Steve Smith has sounded another ominous warning ahead of the Test summer, continuing his scintillating form in Australia's 8-280 against England in the second ODI at the SCG.
After declaring he felt the best he had in six years in the series opener on Thursday night in Adelaide, Smith hit 94 from 114 balls before perishing in the deep on Saturday in Sydney.
Measured and controlled throughout, Smith was furious with himself when he tried to take on Adil Rashid in the 44th over and found Phil Salt at long off.
Regardless, his innings showed the kind of touch he is in after adjusting his batting grip while also making less movement at the crease.
The 33-year-old hit just two boundaries in his first 50 runs, bringing up his half-century off 70 balls, before accelerating against the spinners.
He worked the ball nicely through the legside and one occasion swept for four, before playing his best shot when he cover-drove Rashid to the boundary.
His knock also came as part of a 101-run stand with Marnus Labuschagne, whose 58 marked his first score above 15 in his past seven innings at state or international level.
Mitch Marsh also hit 50 off 58, after Australia's momentum threatened to stall when Rashid (3-57) dismissed Labuschagne and Alex Carey (0) in consecutive balls.
Chris Woakes also bowled neatly for England, claiming 2-42 off his 10 overs as he removed both Travis Head (19) and Marcus Stoinis (13).
But still, the positive for Australia was Smith on a day when Josh Hazlewood won the toss and batted while deputising as captain for Pat Cummins for the first time.
Smith now has scores of 61, 105, 80no and 94 in his past four ODIs, barely offering a chance in those last two knocks before his dismissal on Saturday.
The right-hander will have one more hit against England in Melbourne on Tuesday, before Australia enter camp for the first Test against West Indies starting November 30.
In a worrying sign for the West Indies, Smith's SCG knock came on the same day their Test attack conceded 4-426 against a combined ACT/NSW top order that had just one first-class game between them.
Australia can wrap up the three-match series against England with a win in Sydney, on a pitch that has offered plenty of assistance to slower bowlers.
