Australia began their World Cup defence with a smart win over Afghanistan, and with it, again deflected the noise from the stands.
While the majority of the Bristol crowd cheered proudly for Afghanistan, there were still obvious jeers as Steve Smith and David Warner made their full international returns.
The disgraced duo ran out for an international fixture 433 days after their last, the Test match in Cape Town that brought about a 12-month ban from the international arena.
Ex-skipper Smith and former deputy Warner are now playing for Australia again, and the Aussie fans at the ground were delighted. However, English locals still weren't impressed.
MORE: Warner revels in 'great win' on Australia return
Smith and Warner did the bulk of their fielding work in the ring, Smith at slip and the cover region, Warner on the drive.
However, whenever they had to retrieve the ball from the boundary rope, the boos came thick and fast.
On the apartments facing the ground, two residents cleverly dressed in sandpaper get-up complete with a cricket ball cut-out.
.. slightly better pic of the rough locals ... my eyes didn’t deceive me 👀 #CWC19 https://t.co/QTIRL7aWr6 pic.twitter.com/8OzgYZ8I0e
— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) June 1, 2019
Regardless, considering opposition and venue, there was perhaps no breezier stage for the duo to make their returns.
Afghanistan gave their all and impressed, managing to put 207 on the board in sleepy Bristol. However, it's obvious a 10th-ranked Afghanistan team won't draw as angry and bloodthirsty a crowd than that of an England or South Africa at Lord's or The Oval.
From Aaron Finch to Shaun Marsh, Australian players said they were prepared for what was to come. On Saturday, the first official hit-out, leg-spinner Adam Zampa - who took three wickets in the seven-wicket win - said the side was handling the animosity well.
"We have spoken a bit how we are going to handle that situation," Zampa told reporters after the match.
"Obviously, we copped it in the warm-up game against England, too.
"I think we are expecting it. And to be fair, I think everyone's handling it really well."
The Aussies had a taste of what to expect during their warm-up win over Cup hosts England last week, Smith shutting out the noise the best he could with a sizzling century.
It was Warner's turn to shine against Afghanistan, the 32-year-old piecing together a leisurely unbeaten 89 in the run chase.
Smith and Warner also shared time in the middle together is Bristol, giving themselves an opportunity to converse and find peace in the centre of the ground.
Sportspeople are expected by the masses to be engineered to cop abuse on the chin, but Zampa admitted the team approached ways to prepare for the abuse while in training camp.
However, the leggie acknowledged it as "part of the game" with the Australians now turning their sights to the red-hot Windies.
"Personally, I don't really hear the crowd... I think if you can block it out, you don't really hear it," Zampa said.
"We spoke about it during our camp in Brisbane, about how we are going to react to it and how we are going to handle it, and we haven't spoken about it since.
"I think we expected that we were going to cop it. To our credit, are just getting on with the job. You heard the boos today when Smithy went out there.
"Call it what you want, disrespectful, or just a part of the game... if you let it get to you, I suppose that is when something will happen."
