ADAM Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden aren't belting the bowlers, Glenn McGrath isn't strangling the batsmen, but Australia's new-look one-day international side has risen back to the top of the world rankings.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, a relatively unknown keeper-batsman called Tim Paine scored 111 to take the side to a 6-0 lead and on the verge of a historic clean sweep over England in the seven-match series.
The win took Australia to equal-first with South Africa on the ICC rankings and another win in the final game would give it a clear lead.
The timing could not be better. Australia heads to South Africa next week to compete in the Champions Trophy, an ICC one-day tournament of questionable relevance, but one that is at least offering almost $5million prizemoney.
Paine, 24, is playing in this series because regular keeper Brad Haddin is injured, but is showing the form that suggests he might be the best young batsman to emerge from Tasmania since Ricky Ponting.
Paine displayed remarkable maturity hitting 14 fours in the 148-ball innings. He hit his first half-century at Lord's last Saturday.
"I'm rapt," he said. "I obviously got a bit nervous there so to get it out of the way and for the team to win the sixth straight game is a great thrill.
"It's my job, opening the batting for Australia is to score runs.
"The first few games I felt reasonably good, but didn't go on with it so it was just pleasing once I got my start to cash in."
The cricketer is no big hitter like Haddin or Gilchrist but realises he doesn't have to be.
"That's something I've learned being in the change-rooms with these blokes, that everyone plays differently and the best way for you to play is the way you play and not trying to copy anyone else," he said.
"That's something I've done for the last 12 months. I probably had a period there where I'd try to hit the ball over the top and do all that sort of stuff but that's not the way I play and I'll just keep hammering away as I am."
Both Gilchrist and Haddin played as specialist one-day batsmen while they bided their time waiting for a wicketkeeping job in the one-day side and there is a chance Paine may have to do the same.
"I'm willing to consider it, but whether or not it happens, I've got to keep scoring runs and keeping well and when Brad comes back we'll wait and see then," he said.
"It's very important, just to make the most of it. I've got a short opportunity here while Brad's away and he's the best wicketkeeper-batsman in Australia so he's going to come back."
Certainly, England captain Andrew Strauss seemed envious of Paine's maturity after yet another dismal effort from his cricketers.
"He played very well," Strauss said. "He's playing in a confident side, which helps. All credit to him. He's taken his opportunity and he batted very well today."
Paine's efforts have excited Tasmanians, with selector David Boon singing his praises. Boon said Paine's century was "exceptional" but not surprising.
"We were very confident that he would be able to move through and cope," Boon said.
"He hasn't been overawed at all and his keeping has been exceptional."
* Australian cricketer Ben Hilfenhaus has been named the 2009 Tasmanian sports personality of the year. He was Australia's most successful bowler during the Ashes series, taking 22 wickets in the five Tests at an average of 27.
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