Brett Lee returned to the scene of his greatest triumph to send a strong message to the Australian selectors and give himself a belated birthday present last night.
Under pressure to step up and assume Glenn McGrath's spearhead role, Lee sent the new ball down at close to 150km/h to rock Sri Lanka's top order at the Gabba.
In the lead-up to the Test, selection chairman Andrew Hilditch declared Lee needed to step up and become the new spearhead.
Australia's quick answered the call in emphatic fashion by having opener Sanath Jayasuriya and Michael Vandort caught behind in his opening spell.
Both times Lee jumped in the air with his trademark scissor kick, looking like he was riding a skateboard. His fist-pumps also made a welcome return.
Although there was doubt about Jayasuriya's dismissal, with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist only appealing half-heartedly and the batsman not appearing to make contact, the wickets will give Lee the confidence for the summer.
He desperately needed a spell of verve and vigour, as his 0-188 off 50 overs in a recent Pura Cup match were unimpressive.
Lee, who celebrated his 31st birthday on the opening day of the Test, rekindled his love affair with the Gabba, the venue where he took career-best 5-30 against the West Indies in 2005.
Lee's breakthrough 2005 spell - inspired by skipper Ricky Ponting, who told him to bowl fast at any cost - may have saved his Test career because it was his first five-wicket haul in four lean years.
Lee has added muscle in the off-season and claims he has never been fitter after bulking up in training when he missed the World Cup with an ankle injury.
Debutant left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, preferred to Stuart Clark with the new ball, showed he will be a constant at Test level despite not taking a wicket in his opening spell.
Johnson bowled with sharp pace and bounce - also around the 150km/h mark - and the small crowd of 15,778 roared when he ran in from the top of his mark to bowl the second over.
The 26-year-old, who drove a plumbing supplies truck for a living when he lost his Queensland contract three years ago, was presented with his baggy green cap by McGrath before the match.
McGrath was a fast-bowling mentor for Johnson and is convinced the lean quick can make it at international level.
- BEN DORRIES