Steve Smith has skippered old sides, young sides, teams in transition, the No.1 Test team in the world and, more recently, 10 consecutive defeats.
But only now is there a sense Australia's XI is truly Smith's side.
A generational change building since the retirements of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin last year will be completed in frank fashion under lights at Adelaide Oval.
Batsmen Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson will be presented with baggy greens on Thursday, when the world's third-only day-night Test starts in Adelaide.
It was almost four debutants but Jackson Bird edged Chadd Sayers to claim the final berth in the side to face South Africa.
David Warner, who recently turned 30, is the oldest member of Australia's Test XI.
"Davey Warner keeps telling me he's the only one in the thirties now - he feels like an old man. I think it's a great opportunity for me to stamp my authority on this team as the leader," Smith said on Wednesday.
"This is a great opportunity to get a bit of continuity."
Smith will on Thursday have captained 28 players in Tests, the same total Steve Waugh oversaw in 57 Tests as skipper.
The classy right-hander hopes that turbulent turnover, and a five-Test losing streak, will end as Australia attempt to avoid their first whitewash in a home Test series since federation.
"This series has been disappointing," Smith said.
"I have talked a lot to the guys over the last couple of days about growth and trying to grow and learn as a team.
"I know that growth doesn't happen overnight, so it could take some time, but I am confident that with the guys we have here, that we can start turning our results around straight away and start playing the way we want to.
"I've almost felt a little shift over the last couple of days in attitude and energy from what the new guys have brought in."
Smith hinted he might not have been getting the XI he wanted after a horrible loss in Hobart, where Australia lost the match, series and almost all credibility after being skittled for 85 in their first innings.
There was no such suggestion in Adelaide.
"I'm happy with the team that we've got," he said.
"I am incredibly excited about leading this young team."
South Africa hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, having recorded crushing victories in Perth and Hobart.
The recent ball-tampering saga has overshadowed their preparation for the pink-ball clash, also deflecting much of the scrutiny that was fixed on Smith, coach Darren Lehmann and Cricket Australia.
Australia trained in relative relative anonymity on Tuesday, when photographers and TV cameras were instead waiting on Proteas captain Faf du Plessis to leave his hearing.
"Although there's been a lot going on behind the scenes with South Africa, I've ignored the majority of it," Smith said.
It won't just be the batting order that is reshuffled, with Renshaw set to field at first slip, Handscomb at gully and Maddinson at short leg.
Australia XI: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.
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