Phil Hughes justified his recall after a year in the wilderness as Australia dominated the opening day of the First Test against Sri Lanka in Hobart.
The 24-year-old, who had previously opened for the Aussies, was given the opportunity to resume his Test career at No3 after the retirement of Ricky Ponting.
Hughes took his chance by making 86, including eight fours and one six, exactly 12 months after he was dropped following a horror show against New Zealand at the same venue.
The 166-ball innings was all the more impressive given the newly-laid wicket has proved a minefield for top-order batsmen in domestic competition this season.
He said: “There were a couple of nerves, but overall I was quite calm. There was more excitement around me than anything. I was just happy to get out there and back in the colours again.
“It was nice to get a few, it would have been nice to get three figures and a few more, that’s cricket. To get 80-odd was good for my confidence.”
At stumps, captain Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 70 in a stand of 101 with Michael Hussey, who was on 37 not out. Chanaka Welegedara did most of the damage for the tourists with three wickets for 99.
Together with Shane Watson, Hughes had helped Australia rebuild after David Warner was run out immediately before lunch.
That ended a strong partnership of 79 with Hughes, built after opener Ed Cowan departed for just four.
Watson went late in the second session for 30 and Hughes reached 82 at tea. However, he added just four more before being bowled off an inside edge by the dangerous if expensive Welegedara, but Clarke and Hussey took the score to 299 for four at the close.
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