{Update - Hussey was dismissed the following morning for 150}

Hussey was unbeaten at stumps on 143, while number eight batsman and fellow left-hander Mitchell Johnson was out in the final hour for 47 after combining in a vital seventh-wicket partnership of 109 after Australia’s batting was rocked.

Australia crashed from 165 for two to 197 for six as they lost four wickets for 32 runs. Hussey, who has faced 221 balls with 18 fours, rescued his side with his first century in any form of cricket since making a Test hundred in October.

Prior to the collapse, Hussey steered Australia out of trouble when they slumped to 24 for two, adding 141 for the third wicket with opener Simon Katich, who made 95.

Hussey’s unspectacular but steady innings was largely trouble-free though he was dropped by Sajid Mahmood off his own bowling when on 75.

Pace bowlers Steve Harmison (three for 67) and Tim Bresnan (three for 46), seeking to impress the national selectors, shared six wickets on a slow pitch.

Australia slipped to 24 for two early on as opener Phillip Hughes, who had been struck on the bicep from a rising Harmison delivery, was dismissed for seven when he gloved another Harmison short ball to gully.

Captain Ricky Ponting edged Onions to first slip for one, trying to force the ball through the covers off the back foot.

Katich and Hussey dominated before and after lunch. But Katich’s failure to execute a short ball from Harmison outside his leg stump led to his dismissal, managing only to flick the ball to Onions at fine leg. Vice-captain Michael Clarke was next to go, driving a wide Bresnan out-swinger to backward point. 

All-rounder Marcus North (1) lasted just five balls before he deflected a short ball from Onions on to his stumps. Brad Haddin was lbw to Bresnan (7), who angled the ball back in towards his leg stump.

Johnson faced 78 deliveries and played with typical aggression. He cut and straight drove Adil Rashid for consecutive fours as he warmed up, before playing a slog-sweep for six against the 21-year-old leg-spinner to close on his fifty. 

Johnson eventually edged a Bresnan bouncer to the wicketkeeper, before Brett Lee was bowled by a slow Harmison, yorker. 

Australia selected fast bowlers Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Johnson as they continued to finalise their team plans for the first test against England at Cardiff on July 8.