Shane Watson went on a rampage on day one of the fifth Test at The Oval, in the most dominant display by an Australian No.3 this Ashes series.
At lunch, Australia have stormed to 1-112 from 29 overs.
Elevated to first drop following Usman Khawaja’s dumping, Watson blasted his 50 from just 61 balls, with 42 of those runs scored in boundaries.
He then upped the ante and at the break was 80 not out from 77 balls with 15 fours and a six.
After Australia won the toss for just the second time this series, Watson and Chris Rogers overcame the early loss of David Warner to take full advantage of the perfect batting conditions.
Rogers played the steady hand with 21 not out from 87.
The partnership is worth 101 off 148 balls, with Watson accounting for 80 per cent of the runs.
Watson has had a disappointing series so far, shunted from opening to No.6 and now moved back to the top order to be Australia’s third No.3 of the series.
The last Australian No.3 to score a hundred was Shaun Marsh way back in 2011, and since then eight other batsmen have been given a chance in the position, with Watson one of them.
He’s also had to deal with negative headlines emanating from his fallout with former coach Mickey Arthur.
Watson was well on the way to his third Test century, but there’s no guarantees, with the allrounder having gone 47 Test innings without a ton.
The 32-year-old took full advantage of England’s decision to treat the dead-rubber Test as a chance to blood new talent.
Watson treated debut spinner Simon Kerrigan (0-28 from two) and rookie medium pacer Chris Woakes (0-30 from five) with absolute disdain.
He’d smashed six boundaries off each, accounting for 48 of his runs.
In Kerrigan’s second over, Watson carted him for 18 runs, including four fours.
When Watson and Rogers’ partnership passed 50, Watson had 41 of the runs.
Watson also went after Kerrigan in last week’s tour game between the Australians and the England Lions and it was a tough initiation for the left-arm orthodox spinner – who was picked over misbehaving veteran Monty Panesar.
It wasn’t only the new boys that copped it from Watson, Graeme Swann also went for a huge straight six.
England’s call to play two spinners in a home Test for the first time since 2009 at Cardiff has so far backfired.
Given Australia’s penchant for top order collapses this tour, Watson’s knock was even more commendable given he came to the crease with Australia 1-11.
Warner couldn’t get his feet to move facing James Anderson (1-14) early and edged to slip.
Stuart Broad bowled well out of the blocks, perhaps fired up by comments from Australian coach Darren Lehmann – who called the controversial England quick a “cheat” on radio.