Shane Watson’s magnificent 176 put Australia in command at 307 for four on the first day of the fifth and final Ashes Test against England at The Oval on Wednesday.
The powerful right-hander started out all guns blazing and, after being struck on the head by a Stuart Broad bouncer, he dug in to post his highest Test score and share a fourth-wicket partnership of 145 with Steve Smith. England, seeking to win a home Ashes series 4-0 for the first time, endured a tough day in the field after handing shock debuts to all-rounder Chris Woakes and left-arm spinner Simon Kerrigan who conceded 53 runs in eight nervous overs.
Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and had no hesitation in choosing to bat under clear blue skies on a wicket which traditionally offers little help to bowlers.
England made a breakthrough with the total on 11 when James Anderson drew David Warner into a loose drive and the opener, on six, edged a regulation catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Anderson and Stuart Broad bowled tight opening spells but there was precious little movement and captain Alastair Cook soon turned to off-spinner Graeme Swann. Chris Rogers played out three successive maidens from Swann but runs flowed more freely at the other end, Watson hitting three fours in an over off Woakes who struggled to find a good length.
Watson pulled Woakes powerfully for another boundary and danced down the pitch to lift Swann over long-on for six before reaching his half-century with a single from Kerrigan’s first ball in Test cricket.
Watson smashed the spinner for 28 runs off his first two overs and he had made 80 when Australia took lunch on a healthy 112 for one.
Broad bowled a hostile spell at the start of the afternoon session and Swann removed Rogers for a painstaking 23 off 100 balls, the left-hander edging a turning delivery low to Jonathan Trott at slip. After 41 minutes in the nineties Watson drove Anderson through cover for three to reach his third Test hundred.