London, August 23: Justin Langer's typically gritty 102 not out, his first innings of this Ashes series, more than justified his recall to the side here at The Oval on Thursday.

When bad light forced an early close of the first day of the fifth Test against England, Australia were well on top at 324 for two.

Mark Waugh was 48 not out and Australia captain Steve Waugh, playing his first match since sustaining a double tear of his left calf in the third Test at Trent Bridge, 12 not out.

But the downside for Australia was that, nine balls after reaching three figures, Langer, on 102, retired hurt after being felled by an Andrew Caddick bouncer.

Trying to hook, he bailed out of the shot, only to be completely beaten for pace and struck flush on the side of the head as he took his eye off the ball.

He went down immediately and blood started to come out of a cut above his left ear, before Langer wearily made his way back to the pavilion.

The 30-year-old Western Australian had been in for four hours 20 minutes facing 184 balls including one six and 12 fours before his innings was interrupted.

Langer, out for four matches since featuring in the third Test against India at Madras that preceded this tour, was playing because regular opener Michael Slater had been dropped.

His innings was all the more creditable given his poor tour form early on and the fact that his only previous Test as an opener, against West Indies at Perth in 1992-93, had yielded a score of 10 and one.

Langer, 88 not out at tea, brought up his eighth Test hundred and second against England with three fours in four balls off recalled left-arm spinner and former Middlesex colleague Phil Tufnell.

When last season's Middlesex captain cut Tufnell forcefully for the crucial four, he punched the air in triumph.

Then Ricky Ponting upped the tempo with a succession of stylish shots all round the wicket, before on 62 he gave England debutant James Ormond his first Test wicket when he edged the Leicestershire quick to Michael Atherton at first slip.

The Tasmanian right-hander had faced 102 balls including eight fours and at 292 for two in the 73rd over Australia were still in command.

Together with Matthew Hayden, Langer shared a stand of 158, the first century partnership for the first wicket, on either side, in this series.

But on 68, the tall Queenslander played a slog-sweep against Oval specialist Tufnell. Marcus Trescothick, running in from deep midwicket, took a well-judged catch and Hayden's innings of just over three hours duration was finished.

In all he faced 125 balls including nine fours for his highest score of the series.

Langer, then on 47, might have been dismissed when he prodded at Tufnell only to see Mark Butcher at silly point, presumably expecting a fierce hit, turn his back on the bat-pad chance.

Tufnell's frustration was compounded when Langer went to his fifty with a six over long-on off his old county colleague.

Australia, 3-1 up in the series, but looking to bounce back from their shock six-wicket defeat at Headingley on Monday, had reasserted themselves in forceful fashion, Waugh's decision to bat first on a good pitch fully vindicated despite overcast conditions.