Steve Smith and David Warner, Australia's future leadership duo, each impressed with the bat as the tourists built a strong platform on day one of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval.
Test skipper Michael Clarke announced his intention to retire from international cricket at the end of this series following an innings-and-78-run defeat at Trent Bridge earlier this month, which gave England an unassailable 3-1 lead.
However, Smith - already confirmed as Australia's next captain - and Warner, the man who will serve as his deputy, did their best to restore some pride by contributing 78 not out and 85 respectively on Thursday after England had opted to field.
Their efforts enabled Australia to reach 3-287 at stumps, although Clarke, who was welcomed warmly to the field by players and fans alike, continued his poor form by making just 15 in his final Test.
England's bowlers - so brilliant in dismissing Australia for 60 during a dazzling morning session in Nottingham - were made to toil for large periods as Warner and Chris Rogers (43) exhibited greater patience en route to a century opening stand.
Australia's shot selection has been chastised throughout a frenetic series, but Rogers, who is also playing his last Test, and Warner showed the way as the first hour passed without a single boundary.
Warner soon picked up the pace and, after surviving a couple of nicks that did not carry, deservedly reached 50 with a cover drive off Steven Finn (0-78).
The openers made it through to lunch, but Rogers had been worked over by Stuart Broad (0-43) and Mark Wood (1-41) and the latter eventually made the breakthrough by inducing an edge to Alastair Cook - who juggled the ball at first slip before holding on at the second attempt.
Warner appeared destined to make it to three figures but was undone when Moeen Ali (1-49) found enough turn to prompt an edge to slip.
Clarke came out to a guard of honour from England and warm applause from the crowd, as the departing captain set about partnering new skipper Smith.
Yet while Smith recovered from a shaky opening to grow in stature, Clarke's innings proved short-lived as he nicked Ben Stokes (1-59) behind - a review proving fruitless.
That wicket left Australia 3-186, but Smith received able support from Adam Voges (47 not out) in another hundred partnership.
An excellent drive through the covers off Broad took Smith to his half-century, while also moving him beyond 3,000 Test runs.
Smith, who had made four single-figure scores since Australia's win at Lord's, then hit Moeen for the day's only six, before surviving a wasted England review and a thick edge that skipped past Ian Bell for four prior to bad light stopping play.
Here is a summary of stats from the opening day, provided by Opta:
- Warner has passed 50 on seven occasions in 2015 but reached three figures just once, in his first knock of the year against India.
- Alastair Cook has drawn level with Andrew Strauss on a record 121 catches for England (excluding wicketkeepers).
- Moeen Ali has taken a wicket in 22 of the 27 Test innings he has bowled in.
- Rogers reached 2,000 Test runs in 48 innings, the same number as it took Allan Border and one more than Smith.
- This was the first time in 23 Ashes Tests that the side batting first has reached lunch without losing a wicket (Lord's 2009 - Eng 0-126).
- This was the 23rd time that England have won the toss in an Ashes match at The Oval but just the second time they've chosen to bowl.
- Steve Smith passed 3,000 Test runs in his 63rd innings. Only three Australians (Matthew Hayden, Neil Harvey and Don Bradman) have reached the landmark quicker.