Subject to any last minute changes, former Nottinghamshire batsman Kevin Pietersen will be making his 100th Test appearance with this Ashes series’ curtain-raiser in Brisbane tonight.
But will his walk to the crease, or to take to the field, be greeted with applause or jeering from the majority in the 42,000 capacity stadium?
This milestone follows a week of being painted as this winter’s pantomime villain by the Australian media, who portrayed him as ‘so arrogant even his own team mates don’t like him’.
Pietersen dismissed their suggestions, however, instead insisting that the mood in the England camp is as good as it has ever been.
“Where my career is right now, I don't know that I could be any happier,” he said.
“Clearly there's been some bad stuff which has been well-documented.
“When you're riding the crest of a wave and everything's going really well for you, it's hard to learn. But when you make mistakes in life, business, anything, you learn.”
"I call it confidence - confidence in my ability - wanting to perform every single day." - Pietersen on his 'arrogance'.
He is, of course, partly referring to the ‘textgate scandal’ of 2012, just one incident in a career littered with moments of conflict. There was also the much-told tale of Notts captain Jason Gallian, Pietersen’s kitbag and the balcony of the Trent Bridge dressing room.
"I can't help people thinking I'm arrogant," he said.
"A lot of great sportsmen have that little bit of something to them that makes them try to be the best and want to be the best and wake up every single day wanting to improve.
"I call it confidence - confidence in my ability - wanting to perform every single day."
Pietersen made quite an impact on the county game, and the Notts dressing room, in his time at Trent Bridge. While his ability on the pitch was unquestionable, his attitude and approach found him a difficult prospect for Director of Cricket Mick Newell.
“Talent-wise he would be the best player I have worked with, but he could have had an even better career,” said Newell.
"If he didn’t rate people - and I include myself in that - then you were on the other side.” Mick Newell.
“Anyone who invents their own shot, turning around to whack the ball left-handed, is some cricketer.
“Things were fairly difficult between me and him because Kevin came to Nottinghamshire solely because of Clive Rice.
“When Clive left it put both of us in a tricky position. My job was to get match-winning performances out of him.
He would actively alienate himself from some. If he didn’t rate people - and I include myself in that - then you were on the other side.”
With all of those experiences behind him, he could be forgiven for finally conceding that enough might be enough, and harbouring thoughts of moving away from the international game. Instead, he has his eye set on 2015, and beyond.
"I had coffee with Ashley Giles and said to him - I want to be with you in 2015,” added Pietersen.
"I've been so lucky to have done everything with this great side. We won the Twenty20 World Cup, have beaten Australia home and away and beaten India in India.
"The only thing that hasn't been ticked is beating everybody in a World Cup 50-over tournament.
"I would love to be given that opportunity and I'm committed to Ashley and the England side to get there.
"When I've bumped my head I've learned. I wouldn't be sitting here on the eve of my 100th Test if I hadn't learnt and got things right. Where I am in my career right now, I'm incredibly happy."
Pietersen is coming into this series at his best. Hotly tipped by current and former teammates alike as the likely difference between England and Australia, his has become the name to fear ahead of the series.
Broad and Pietersen, public enemies one and two
“Kevin is the best player ever to wear an England shirt,” said Steve Harmison, who played alongside Pietersen in two Ashes Series.
“He has changed the face of the game and the way people, especially young people coming into the game, view the game.
“English people have to be thankful that somebody like that has come along.”
Through all of this, one thing reads clearly, that Kevin Pietersen is a man who thrives on conflict. He’s also invaluable to the England side, and not just in terms of runs.
With all of the media attention on Pietersen and Broad, the rest of the England squad has been able to prepare without the limelight. With the youth of Joe Root, and the inexperience of Michael Carberry in these high-pressure situations, both will be thankful for a quiet preparation for the Series, the media attention elsewhere.
He was also perfectly used at Trent Bridge in July, after a controversy-wracked third day in the first Investec Ashes Test saw not-walking Stuart Broad instilled as the Antipodean’s public enemy number one.
There was a tangible atmosphere in the post-match interview hall that day, British journalists knowing they couldn’t avoid the difficult questions, and the Australians actively sharpening their pencils with gritted teeth. Who would the England camp send forth for this thankless task? Andy Flower? Bowling coach David Saker? Broad himself? No, it was Kevin Pietersen who took to the stage.
His combative personality fit perfectly, partly defusing the situation, partly keeping as much attention on his second-innings 64 as possible. Typically for a batsman, he was impossible to break down. It’s situations like that, where no one comes close to KP.