Injured Australia captain Michael Clarke completed an inspiring century after lunch on day two of the first Test against India on Wednesday, having returned to the crease following pain-killing injections on his back.
The 33-year-old flicked a single off his pads to bring up the milestone after play resumed in the wake of a rain delay and was given a standing ovation by the Adelaide Oval crowd.
Clarke's ton was a record seventh by a player at Adelaide Oval and came after centuries to his New South Wales team mates David Warner (145) and Steven Smith (142 not out), who raised his from the first ball after lunch on day two.
Though Warner and Smith both looked up to the sky in tribute to their fallen team mate Phillip Hughes, Clarke's celebration was more muted, raising his bat to acknowledge the applause before kissing the crest on his helmet.
He and Smith began to hit out after lunch and had driven the hosts to 473-6 with their unbroken 119-run partnership before more showers brought another rain delay before tea.
Clarke had made 60 not out on Tuesday when he retired hurt after twisting to avoid a short ball from Ishant Sharma. He tried to stretch out the injury with medical staff but trudged off minutes later.
The injury put a question mark over his participation in the remainder of the four-match series as well as his ability to lead Australia into the 50-over World Cup early next year.
Clarke was only playing after coming through a fitness Test on a third hamstring strain in three months, problems which are related to his long-term degenerative back injury.
Though helped by some inconsistent bowling from India and a flat wicket, Clarke (109 not out) was in clear discomfort as he battled to the ton, grimacing after certain shots and trotting, rather than sprinting between the wickets.
Team physio Alex Kountouris said the skipper was struggling with 'quite a significant back injury' but that he had been determined to 'give it a go'.
"He hasn't had anything like this for 18 months, the last time was at the Champions Trophy in England."
Australia, who won the toss and elected to bat, had resumed on 354 for six wickets.
