Birmingham: Tim Paine says Australia have an opportunity to further restore faith with the public over the next six weeks as England cast doubt on how the tourists' less aggressive post-sandpaper brand of cricket would hold up in the pressure cooker of the Ashes.
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When the first Test against England begins on Thursday at Edgbaston, Cape Town trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft will return to an Australian team featuring different names to the one that was last trotted out against Sri Lanka in February.
There has been a great deal more change than simply to personnel since they last graced the Test arena 16 months ago, with Australia undergoing a cultural overhaul and team members signing a new players pact devised in the wake of the ball-tampering incident as a guide on how they should conduct themselves on the field. The last Test series between Australia and England in 2017-18 was noted for its excessive sledging and general hostility.
As Australia welcome former captain Smith, ex-deputy Warner and opener Bancroft back into the fold following their time in purgatory, Paine said the team was intent on continuing on the path of recasting its image after starting that process in the home summer against India and then in the World Cup, in which Aaron Finch's side made the semi-finals.
"Every time we play now it is [a chance to do that], there's no doubt about that," Paine said on the eve of the first Test. "We want Australian cricket fans and Australian people to be proud of their cricket team. Every time we walk out on the field that's what we're aiming to do. We're also aiming to win and be as competitive as people expect of an international cricket side. That's how we're going to go about it.
"Our guys understand what's expected of them. We're role models not just for Australian people but all round the world. There has been a quote going round our change-rooms this week from Winston Churchill actually, and that's that behaviour doesn't lie. We can talk all we like about how we're going to behave. Ultimately you guys will see how we behave and judge for yourself."
Paine's declaration came as the England camp expressed doubt over whether Australia would curb their old ways, having been particularly annoyed by Josh Hazlewood's pre-series questioning of whether opener Jason Roy would be up to Test level.
"It is weird when Aussies try to be nice to you," said Ben Stokes, England's restored vice-captain. "Once you cross the white line and get out into the middle, the competitive side of both teams will come out. There is always something that happens between the teams in Ashes series and I don't think this will be any different. The Ashes are where you get scrutinised like no other. I can assure you there will be some sort of theatre out there."
Australia coach Justin Langer, who has overseen Australia's cultural revolution, said he was pleased his team had received no ICC code violations in the past year.
"I hope that through my whole tenure as coach that's the way, but whether it happens ... boys are still boys and they're playing a tough game and every now and then emotions take over. But our hope is that continues, no doubt," he said.
While Smith, Warner and Bancroft are back and Matthew Wade begins his second coming in Test cricket as a specialist batsman in the middle order, Australia hope the bold step of splitting up Australia's three frontline fast bowlers from recent years will pay off.
Mitchell Starc, who collected a record number of wickets for a bowler at the World Cup and bagged 10 for the match in Australia's most recent Test six months ago, should make way for a resurgent James Pattinson, while Hazlewood's return to the XI from injury was on match eve also being challenged by Peter Siddle.
Fast bowlers don't tend to be creatures who enjoy being benched, but Paine said they were on board with the strategy in the Ashes.
"We've spoken about it to the bowlers," Paine said. "We're going to pick the team we think is going to win each Test match given the conditions we get when we arrive at those venues and the bowlers are across that.
"I think that's a great thing for our team - to have a really strong mix of fast bowlers who can all play in different conditions. But as we've said to the fast bowlers, it's actually a great thing for them as well because we can now prolong their careers for a few years. The last two or three years, we've been way too reliant on Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood - they've played a lot of Tests and subsequently picked up lots of niggly injuries along the way. It's a positive for all those guys.
"Another one is Peter Siddle, he can get another 12 months of Test cricket if we keep picking guys for the conditions. That's the way we've sold it to them. It's a great thing for the team but it's also a great thing for them individually."
Teams
Australia: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood/Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon.
England: Rory Burns, Jason Roy, Joe Root (c), Joe Denly, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.
Pitch
A brownish, hard surface has been prepared and spent plenty of time undercover in the lead-up due to rain. "I must admit I was expecting a bit of a greentop," Australia captain Tim Paine said. "It's certainly a different colour than I expected but there is a thick covering of grass on it ... I think the Dukes ball is going to swing around."
Weather
Cloudy and 22 degrees. After rain on Sunday and Tuesday, the rain is forecast to interrupt the match over the five days. It's predicted to be partly cloudy over the first two days with a chance of rain, while showers are expected on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Betting
Australia $1.95, England $2.40, Draw $6.50
On the box
Live coverage on 9Gem from 7.30pm Thursday(First session begins at 8pm, Sydney time)
- SMH/The Age
