One swallow does not make a summer but it may have saved the Test career of Shaun Marsh, who defied a nation of doubters to lead Australia to a thrilling series victory against New Zealand.
After a winter of upheaval, the Steve Smith era has started with a 2-0 triumph over the Trans Tasman rivals, as cricket's first day-night Test finished in three days with the crowd on the edge of their seats.
The Australians ended the Black Caps' run of seven undefeated series but not before being given a mighty fright.
Victory was not guaranteed until Mitchell Starc, nursing a stress fracture in his foot, hobbled to complete a two which enabled Peter Siddle to hit the winning runs. Siddle's grandmother passed away during the match.
Australia's mission would have been even more complicated if not for Josh Hazlewood's heroics with the ball.
The Test had been in the balance the previous night after Australia's first-innings collapse. A more accomplished team than the world No.5 would have punished an Australian attack missing their in-form strike weapon though they would have found Hazlewood a powerful adversary.
His six wickets limited Australia's run chase to a tricky but very gettable 187, and so it proved.
The road to victory was not without several potholes. And while Australia's brains trust would have hoped for fewer heart palpitations along the way they had reason to be pleased by the manner in which the win was achieved.
Rather than being the leading acts, David Warner played only a cameo role and Steve Smith had the part of an extra, albeit an uncharacteristically bumbly one.
Instead it was Shaun Marsh who emerged the unlikely hero - a scenario which seemed unfathomable on Saturday afternoon after his comical run out.
Marsh has played some fine innings in the baggy green but his best knocks have tended to come abroad, away from the national consciousness. Think of his century on debut in Kandy or his agenda-setting ton in Centurion last year, which both set up decisive wins.
At home, he has been embarrassing at times - most notably his 17 runs in four Tests against India four years ago, which then chairman of selectors John Inverarity described as "traumatic".
So there was good reason for the sceptics to cry "here we go again" two weeks ago when he was given his latest Test recall.
This time, however, he delivered the goods, vindicating selectors' decision to opt for his extra international experience over the better form of uncapped veteran Michael Klinger.
Few players have been given warmer applauses for a 49 than the reception Marsh received when he left Adelaide Oval with victory in sight.
The game was on the line, the ball was hooping and Trent Boult was in the midst of a five-wicket haul.
"It was swinging around a fair bit, it was hard work right throughout the game," Marsh said.
"You always had to be on your game."
While his harshest critics will take marks off for his failure to see it through to the finish, it must be noted how much pressure he and the team was under.
Another low score and he may not have been given another Test, and it would have left Australia in tremendous peril.
Marsh strode to the crease with Australia teetering at 3/66 with Smith and Warner already dismissed.
The situation became even more fraught when Adam Voges was out the second over after dinner, leaving the Marsh brothers as the remaining frontline batsmen with 72 runs left.
The Waugh twins these two are not, but batting together for the first time in a Test match they combined for an invaluable 46-run stand which took the oomph out of the Kiwis' bold bid for an unlikely win.
"It was pretty special, first time we've batted together, pretty amazing to be out there with him," Marsh said.
"He got the tempo going straight away."
