Steve Smith brought up a well-made hundred before Australia immediately declared their first innings in a strong position at 5-366 against Sussex at Hove.
Just 2.4 overs were bowled on day two of the three-day match before Smith smashed Monty Panesar for four to bring up the milestone.
Smith was 98 not out overnight and his century is just the third from an Australian in five matches this Ashes tour.
The 24-year-old has come on in leaps and bounds in 2013 after also impressing on the tour of India.
Smith also scored two hundreds on the Australia A tour of the UK which led into the Ashes and he now has seven first-class tons.
He took three wickets with his leg-spin in the Lord’s Test to show he adds plenty of allround value to the Australian Test team.
Smith is a terrific fieldsman and has also been touted as a future leader.
Ashton Agar finished eight not out at the other end, while Smith’s 102 came off 165 balls, with 16 fours.
Phil Hughes (84), Ed Cowan (66) and Usman Khawaja (40) all made good starts on day one, but were unable to go on with the job and make a big hundred.
David Warner scored 193 for Australia A against South Africa A to put plenty of pressure on Australia’s incumbent batsmen.
However, Smith secured his place for the third Test at Old Trafford starting next Thursday with a workmanlike innings.
He struggled a little early with two lbw shouts, one off a new ball – but got going towards the end of day one – at one point taking advantage of the tiny square boundary by smashing three consecutive fours in one over.
Hughes has scored five half-centuries this tour and tops the aggregates, but appears the man most likely to make way for Warner.
The Australians will be hoping their bowlers can tear through Sussex on Saturday so their batsmen can get another crack in the second innings.
Panesar took 3-70 for Sussex, who are second in the county championship, but have rested a number of players for the tour game.