Alex Carey has written his own Ashes storyline, with England's arch-nemesis from 2023 returning to help set up Australia's push to wrap up the series in Adelaide.
On an opening day when Usman Khawaja earned the most unlikely career reprieve and hit 82 for the hosts, Carey's 106 led Australia to 8-326 on the first day of the third Test.
Australia without a doubt would have had their sights set on a big first-innings total after winning the toss and batting, even after Steve Smith was ruled out with vertigo.
But thanks to Carey and Khawaja, this game is very much still in the balance.
The villain of the 2023 Ashes in England's eyes following his controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord's, Carey was even told by Stuart Broad at the time that was all he'd ever be remembered for.
Now, the 34-year-old is having the series of his life with both bat and gloves.
After arriving at the crease when Jofra Archer (3-29) took two wickets in the first over following lunch to leave Australia 4-94, Carey looked every bit in control.
The left-hander swept and cover-drove his way to a century, going after spinner Will Jacks and slog-sweeping him for one big six over long on.
He then looked to the sky in honour of his late father when he brought up his third Test century and first in Adelaide from 135 balls, cover-driving Ben Stokes towards the boundary.
Afterwards, Carey said it was not lost on him the position he was in during this series compared to just two-and-a-half years ago.
"But again, I love playing cricket and I understand what comes with playing professional sport," Carey said.
"You're not always going to be liked. And at times it depends which side of the fence you sit on.
"There's heroes and villains, that's all part of the learnings and part of the game."
Even on Wednesday, it didn't come without drama.
England were left frustrated when Carey was given not out to a caught behind appeal on 72.
England reviewed and there was a noise, but the spike on snicko didn't line up with the ball passing the bat, and Carey survived.
"I thought there was a bit of a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat," Carey said.
"If I was given out, I think I would have reviewed it. Probably not confidently, though. It was a nice sound as it passed the bat."
Then asked by British media if he was "a walker", Carey responded: "Clearly not".
Beyond Carey, the other story of the day was Khawaja on the eve of his 39th birthday.
His Test career looked over after being left out of the Australian team, before Smith was ruled out before the toss.
Khawaja was dropped on five by Harry Brook but then looked his old laconic self as he peeled off boundaries behind square either side of the wicket.
Batting at No.4, Khawaja's innings marked just his third score over 50 in 28 innings, and at least made some case for him to remain in Australia's side for Boxing Day.
His position would have been stronger had he not swept Jacks (2-105) to Josh Tongue at cow corner, and surged on to make a century.
Mitchell Starc also played a crucial role for Australia, with his 33no helping Carey to his century and the hosts to stumps.
Earlier, Weatherald and Travis Head went within seven balls of each other in the first hour, the former top edging a pull shot when cramped for room by Archer.
Head at least fell to a superb Zak Crawley catch at cover, but the half-volley from Brydon Carse was hardly one of the day's better balls.
And when Marnus Labuschagne (19) and Cameron Green (0) both picked out Carse at midwicket off Archer, it left Khawaja and Carey to answer the call.
