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They played hundreds of games together, sharing partnerships and helping the Australian cricket team win world championships in all three formats of the game.
But will Friday night’s Big Bash League derby between the Sixers and Thunder at the SCG be the last time Sydney fans get to see champions Steve Smith and David Warner on the same pitch together?
Steve Smith and David Warner will do battle on Friday in the Sydney Smash.Credit: AP
While the veteran run machines remain in outstanding form and could continue playing, it remains to be seen how many more times the planets align for them to again feature in the same game.
Warner, 39, retired from international cricket 18 months ago and these days plies his trade as a T20 globetrotter.
Smith, 36, pulled the pin on one-day internationals last year but is still churning out Test-match runs and has expressed a desire to be involved in Australia’s T20 side at the Los Angeles Olympics.
So the only chance of the two superstars - and central figures in the infamous “Sandpapergate” affair - crossing paths on the field is playing 20-over matches.
They did battle in the corresponding BBL fixture last season, but the game was washed out after only 5.1 overs, with Warner unbeaten on 22.
A year earlier, the left-hander arrived at the SCG in a helicopter, scoring 32 after Smith had earlier been dismissed for a golden duck on the first ball of the match.
Two years ago David Warner arrived in a helicopter for the Sydney Smash after attending his brother’s wedding.Credit: Getty
Warner is in some doubt for Friday night, having missed Monday’s loss to Melbourne Renegades with a knee injury, but a Thunder spokesman said he was expected to play.
“He’s obviously still batting really nicely,” Smith said of his long-time former teammate.
“He’s had a couple of really good knocks in the last couple of weeks, so he’s obviously a dangerous player for them up top.”
Adding to the occasion, Ashes hero Mitchell Starc will make his first appearance for the Sixers in 11 years, setting up an enticing new-ball battle with Warner.
Smith said Starc was “bowling like an absolute wizard at the moment” and was looking forward to his cameo two-game stint in the BBL.
“He’s such a workhorse,” Smith said.
“He’s got such resilience in his body. He knows his body inside out. He was just incredible throughout the summer … hopefully he can put on a similar show here for the Sixers in the next couple of games.”
Warner, Smith and Starc (35) are all entering the twilight of illustrious careers, and Smith’s philosophy is to “take it day by day”. But he also believes players should be judged on performances, not their birth certificates.
“Age is just a number,” Smith said.
“If you can still do your job and you’re the best at it, everything else is irrelevant, in my opinion.
“It can only help you, experience in big games. And I think that showed out during the Ashes series.
“We had an experienced squad, and experienced players know how to win big moments, and I think we did that better than England.”
The Thunder, who sit last on the points table after two wins from nine games, will be playing for pride against their cross-town rivals, but there is much more at stake for the Sixers.
After four wins and a no-result from their first eight games, the Sixers sit a point outside the top four.
But if they can win against the Thunder and Brisbane Heat on Sunday, and two other results fall in their favour, the Sixers could qualify for the finals in top spot, securing home-ground advantage.
“I think if the results go our way, we can still finish first,” Smith said.
“That’s what someone inside was saying before. We’ll just concentrate on what we can do now.
“Hopefully win our next two and it will take care of itself … it’s good for the comp if it’s close towards the back end. Every game is important. If we win our next two, it’s irrelevant.”
Meanwhile, amid reports that the annual pink-ball Test could be dumped for the next Ashes series in Australia, Smith clearly approved of that prospect, although he admitted he might not be involved.
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“I’m not a big fan of the pink ball,” he said. “I can’t see the thing very well, so more than happy.
“I don’t think I’ll be around for that. For those that like the pink ball, it’s a bit of a shame I suppose, but I don’t think you need it in an Ashes series.
“I think you saw the crowds we got for the series out here for all the red-ball games. I think we pretty much broke records for every game. So I don’t think we need it.”
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