JOIN USSteve Smith's maiden Test century led Australia to 397 for six at tea on a rain-affected second day of the final Ashes Test against England at The Oval on Thursday.
Smith lofted Jonathan Trott for six to bring up three figures and had moved on to 112 not out at the interval as Australia, seeking a consolation victory in a series they trail 3-0, turned the screw on England.
Australia resumed on 307 for four when play started three and a half hours late due to rain and England fast bowler James Anderson soon bowled nightwatchman Peter Siddle for 23 with a peach of a delivery.
But Smith and Brad Haddin shared an untroubled sixth-wicket partnership of 65 as the England fast bowlers failed to take full advantage of overcast conditions.
Smith, 66 not out overnight, continued to find the boundary at regular intervals and England captain Alastair Cook was forced to turn to part-time medium-pacer Trott.
Smith launched Trott over long-on with a crisp strike to get to his first hundred in his 12th Test, an innings spanning five hours and including two sixes and 14 fours.
Trott did force Haddin, on 30, to chop the ball on to his stumps but Smith was joined by James Faulkner, making his test debut, and the pair took the touring side safely through to tea.
‘Big relief’
Talking about his hundred, Watson said he was relieved to reach the milestone. "It was a big relief to get to three figures, there's no doubt about that," Watson told a news conference.
"For me the important thing was to bat for a long period of time and I have been working very hard to be able to do that."
Watson received a standing ovation as he trudged back to the pavilion after nearly six hours at the crease, his first Test century for three years including one six and 25 fours.
"I haven't scored anywhere near the amount of runs I would have liked in this series and there has been a lot of soul-searching on my part," said Watson, who has been shunted around the batting order as Australia have struggled to find the right combination.
"You need things to fall your way and I certainly had that today."
England, seeking to win a home Ashes series 4-0 for the first time, endured a gruelling first 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.
"It was a tough day for us but I thought we stuck to our task as a bowling group pretty well," England fast bowler James Anderson said after becoming his country's second-highest Test wicket-taker. "Watson played out of his skin and made it very difficult to bowl at him but we've had tough days in the series before and clawed our way back."