Andrew Symonds sounded a warning to the West Indies ahead of their three-Test series after launching his tour in emphatic fashion against a Jamaica XI today.
Simon Katich top-scored with 97 ahead of his Test return, while Brad Haddin added a quality half-century.
But it was Symonds who impressed most with a punishing 86 as Australia's top order made good use of their only decent hit-out before the start of the first Test on Thursday.
Ricky Ponting's side was finally dismissed for 396 late on day two at the Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium.
Jamaica, 99 runs in arrears on first innings, were 0-11 at stumps, with the Australians set to spend the majority of the final day of the tour match in the field.
Symonds consolidated his place among Australia's top Test batsman during the recent home series against India and Sri Lanka, but has yet to leave his mark while on tour with the Test team.
He has scored just one half-century in eight innings abroad - the last of which was more than two years ago in South Africa.
But if today's performance is any guide, the broad-shouldered Queenslander should have little problem correcting that record this tour.
Symonds rode his luck, but gave the small crowd the best entertainment of another energy-sapping day by pummelling eight fours and two sixes while sharing in a 146-run sixth wicket stand with Haddin (60).
Katich's innings, by contrast, was far more measured, but an important knock for the NSW skipper as he prepares to play his first Test since 2005 at Sabina Park next week.
"It was just nice to get out there and play some cricket, get a few runs and spend some time out in the middle," said Katich, who was denied a hundred after falling to a brilliant outfield catch by promising West Indian batsman Xavier Marshall.
"It's always disappointing not to get a hundred, but that's the way it goes, and at the end of the day, it was nice to spend some time out of the middle and get a few runs, so I can't complain too much.
"It's just nice to be able to go out there and know I'm playing well and have confidence in my game."
Ponting looked confident as he made a promising start to his innings today.
But the Australian skipper, whose form has come into question in recent months after a lean IPL stint followed an inconsistent summer, came undone at 17 when he was brilliantly caught by off-spinner Nikita Miller after a thundering straight drive.
