Thursday 2 July 2015 21:31, UK
Essex opener Tom Westley was congratulated by England captain Alastair Cook after hitting a century against Australia on the rain-hit second day of their tour match at Chelmsford.
Australia had been put into bat on a favourable wicket and, after resuming on Thursday, posted what looked a formidable total of 562.
But Australia pacemen Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood failed to make any early inroads as Essex produced a stubborn response, led by Westley's 144 and 86 not out from captain Ravi Bopara as the home side replied with 299 for three at stumps.
"I checked my phone and I have had a message from Cooky already, it was just 'well done and congrats, I will give you a call over the next couple of days'," said 26-year-old Westley, who was promoted to opening bat following a finger injury in the field to Nick Browne.
"My father and uncle were here today, so it is a fantastic feeling to score some runs, and hopefully I can get some more.
"I thought I was lucky at some times, it is a tough wicket to bowl on with not much in it, but Australia have all bases covered.
"We spoke about just trying to be positive and fortunately it came off today.
"We have been playing really good cricket and just want that to continue, if we can back well tomorrow, then who knows, but we are in a good position."
Bopara, part of England's 2009 Ashes squad, knocked the beleaguered Australian attack around the ground as the 200 partnership came up, before Westley was eventually beaten when bowled after Starc went around the wicket. His 144 came off 209 balls, with 24 fours and one six.
Veteran paceman Peter Siddle - a late replacement in the XI for injured quick Ryan Harris – admitted that Australia’s bowlers still had room for improvement.
"It was obviously disappointing not to get some more wickets during the day, but it comes back to our consistency with the ball, we were a bit all over the shop,” Siddle said.
"But at times the boys showed how they were getting through, at the end of the day it was a good blow out for us, we got some overs under our belt.
"They batted well, but hopefully those late couple of wickets opened it up a bit, so we will be switched on in the morning and can get stuck in."
