For all the recent talk about Australia supposedly being an ageing side in decline it was worth noting that it was two of the team's youngest players that were primarily responsible for the first Test win against New Zealand at the Gabba.
Both vice-captain Michael Clarke and rapidly improving left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson took major steps in their development as Australia overcame being bowled out for under 300 in each innings to beat the Kiwis comprehensively by 149 runs in little more than three days.
And while Australia might have several players in the team aged 30 plus who are closer to the end of their careers than to the beginning, in Clarke and Johnson lie two players whom future Test teams can be built around.
Clarke reminded everyone why at just 27 he is the Australian vice-captain and a possible replacement for Ricky Ponting when the Australian skipper eventually brings his decorated career to an end.
His innings of 98 on day one was one of maturity, class and persistence given that it was in difficult conditions - even more so because it was on a wicket that was in complete contrast to the low, slow wickets the Australians had just come off in India - as Clarke rescued Australia from a perilous 3-23.
Thanks to Clarke, Australia was able to scrape up to a first-innings total of 214 which at first appeared disappointing but would ultimately prove to be more than competitive.
The fact the Kiwis did not manage 200 in either innings shows just how important Clarke's contribution and Simon Katich's unbeaten century in the second innings were to the overall result.
But the main reason the Kiwis were bowled out for meagre totals of 156 and 177 is because of the efforts of Johnson, who confirmed himself as not only now arguably Australia's No.1 bowler but one of the most exciting bowlers in the world.
With Stuart Clark, another fine contributor in Brisbane, now 33 and Brett Lee 32, Australia is looking for a younger spearhead in the post-Glenn McGrath era and Johnson is well on his way to fulfilling that role.
His match figures of 9-69 were the best in Australia since McGrath's 9-68 in Perth against Pakistan four years ago and take his overall record to 56 wickets at 30.5 in just 12 months in the Test side.
Johnson jumped up 18 places on the ICC's world rankings as a result and is now the equal 12th-ranked bowler in world cricket and there is no doubt that he and Clarke will be part of many successful Test sides in the future as Australia begins the task of building its next great team.