It is hardly revolutionary to see a team blaze away at the start of a one-day innings, but Australia's mindset in the first two matches against South Africa has given a clear indication of how they will approach the World Cup. And it won't involve seeing out the new balls.

"We saw the lack, probably, of intent from South Africa the game before, so for us we had to get on the front foot," Warner said. "Our goal is always to try to target the first ten. Then from there try to build a partnership outside of the powerplay. We got a couple of probably free shots outside the off stump, especially with Travis, his leg stump is his off stump, he can create that off-side play whenever he feels like it, but our gameplan was to take the first ten on and build from there."

Over the last couple of series, as attention has turned more specifically to the ODI World Cup, Australia's ten-over powerplays have produced some hefty returns. In the last eight games, their lowest score in that period has been 53 for 2 against England in Sydney; on six occasions they have gone at better than a run a ball and twice have flayed over 100.

"He [Travis] had a bit of a crack at me from the last game getting out on zero, it killed our partnership average he said," Warner joked. "We know each other's game plan very well, we are trying to put the pressure back on the bowlers and today, without swinging conditions, it probably enhanced that a little bit for us to go after them. If there is a bit of swing we'll have to deal with that."

The desire to embolden the top order to keep playing with freedom is a big reason why Australia are stacking their batting down to at least No. 8, although on Saturday the lower middle order was the only part of the game that did not quite click with Tim David, Alex Carey and Aaron Hardie making 10 off 19 balls between them, but it was the smallest of blemishes.

"Thought the way they batted was just outstanding to have 110 [102] off the powerplay, Heady and David Warner were amazing, then for Marnus to bat the way he did just carried it on," Marsh said. "Thought our intent throughout the whole innings was something that we've spoken about and our execution today was as good as it gets with the bat."

It was, in fact, only Marsh who really missed out on the fun. "I'll probably put the reverse sweep away first ball, I think," Marsh, who now has five wins from five matches as Australia captain, said.