Rob Forsaith at the Gabba
Tight bowling from Glenn McGrath has helped the ACA All*Stars restrict Australia to a total of 5-173 in the season opening Twenty20 clash at the Gabba on Sunday night.
39-year-old McGrath may not have been the quickest mover in the field, but he was as miserly as ever with the ball in hand, at one point boasting figures of 3-10 from three overs.
McGrath, bowling on Australian soil for the first time since the summer of 2006/07, made the initial breakthrough for the All*Stars in the fourth over when dangerous opener David Warner (15) was caught behind.
A 38-run partnership between Brad Haddin (33) and Michael Clarke (27) helped Australia settle, but the reintroduction of McGrath in the 14th over saw the momentum swing once more.
David Hussey (22) holed out to Jason Krejza in the deep, while Adam Voges followed for a golden duck the very next ball to put McGrath on a hat-trick heading into his final over.
McGrath was unable to snare the personal milestone, but his efforts helped give the underdogs a fighting chance of victory.
Late hitting from Cameron White (44 not out) and George Bailey (30 not out) then helped nudge the hosts' total past 170.
The pair shared in an unbeaten 68-run stand in the last six overs, with the highlight being the final over which saw Nathan Rimmington taken for 24 runs.
White and Bailey each cleared the rope twice, but neither was unable to get a hold of Shane Warne, who posted figures of 0-33 in his one-off comeback.
Warne got off to a shaky start when a rank short ball went whistling to the boundary courtesy of a blistering pull-shot from Haddin, but the ledged steadied.
Warne, who earlier won the toss and elected to bowl, had an entertaining duel with Clarke, made all the more lively due to Warne's commentary.
The battle ended prematurely, with a mistimed drive seeing Clarke out edging to Graham Manou, who took over the keeping duties from Adam Gilchrist at the 10-over mark.
Spectators will be expecting some fireworks early in the All*Stars' innings when Australia's express paceman Shaun Tait will be looking to ruin the reunion of Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden at the top of the order.