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The SCG is hosting potentially the final Test in which David Warner takes on fellow Ashes veterans Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson.
They came to watch the resumption of an Ashes series already decided, but David Warner's duel with England's iconic pace duo provided a captivating chapter again.
Warner landed some early blows against Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad, but the latter bounced back to dismiss the opener for a 13th time.
No bowler has claimed Warner's scalp so consistently.
"You guys beat up a good story which is fantastic and it builds up the game," Warner quipped.
"From my perspective, it's like any other bowler.
"But me and Broady love it when we're out there. It's good fun, good funny banter.
"It's great to come up against the world's best ... it's awesome to see Broady back out there."
Broad's breakthrough came as he operated around the wicket and attacked a similar line and length to that which routinely troubled Warner throughout the 2019 Ashes.
It raised even more questions about England's selections this series.
"Stuart Broad, where were you in Brisbane?" England's former captain Michael Vaughan asked from the Fox Sports commentary box.
The SCG could potentially be hosting the final Test involving icons Broad, Warner and Jimmy Anderson; depending on the visitors' XI in Hobart.
Warner's flourishes and failures have been the prism through which so many Ashes contests have been analysed.
This summer, it has been the former.
Warner is yet to reach three figures but, at stumps on a sodden day one of the fourth Test, topped the series' run-scoring charts with 270 at 54.
It is a fair achievement given the state of the belligerent opener's battered ribs in Brisbane, where his knock of 94 put Australia on track to quickly retain the urn.
That Gabba match was also a statistical anomaly, marking one of Warner's 27 Ashes Tests in which he has faced an attack without Broad or Jimmy Anderson.
Anderson has played every Test since while Broad was snubbed again in Melbourne.
The most prolific new-ball Test pairing in history reunited in England's XI at the SCG.
"They would have been disappointed to miss some of the Test matches, not bowling together," Warner said.
"But that's their selection panel."
Anderson's rising delivery to Warner proved about as good a tone-setting start as England could hope for, outside a wicket.
The day's first ball spat off the pitch, striking a surprised Warner on the glove.
Warner got on top of Anderson and Broad in their new-ball spells, driving three early boundaries to get the scoreboard ticking over before coming unstuck after lunch.
DAVID WARNER'S TEST DISMISSALS (BY BOWLER)
*13 - Stuart Broad
*10 - James Anderson, Ravichandran Ashwin
*6 - Umesh Yadav
*5 - Neil Wagner
