London, August 23: Australia batsman Justin Langer had a mixed return to Test cricket here at The Oval on Thursday.

First came the joy of scoring a hundred against England but soon afterwards came the pain of being struck flush on the side of the head by an Andrew Caddick bouncer on the first day of the fifth Ashes Test.

Langer, in for the dropped Michael Slater, had made 102 in his first Test innings of the summer when, bailing out of a hook shot, he took his eye off the ball and went down as if hit by a boxer. Australia were then 236 for one.

However, the 30-year-old Western Australia left-hander recovered and walked off to retire hurt.

In a statement issued later by an Australia spokesman, Langer said: "I've been hit on the helmet lots of times but this felt like a very heavy impact."

The spokesman added: "Justin's gone for precautionary scans. He did lie down in the dressing room but sat up soon afterwards.