England’s second string had the upper hand at tea with the Aussies 215-6 in their final warm-up before the first Ashes Test starting on July 8.

But Hussey hit an unbeaten 143 with 18 boundaries as they closed on 337-8.

Five of the probable Test side’s top seven were dismissed for single-figure scores on a flat wicket at Worcester.

However, opener Simon Katich made a solid 95 but eventually fell to Steve Harmison.

The Durham paceman took 3-67 in the day from a workload of 22 overs, and delivered a fiery opening burst. His first ball clattered into young opener Phillip Hughes’ helmet and he also struck Ricky Ponting on the shoulder.

The left-handed Hughes, who has shone in a brief Test career and in an early-season stint with Middlesex, could not cope with Harmison’s aggression on a muggy morning – and it was no surprise when a catch finally looped to gully off the handle of his bat.

Ponting played a mystifying shot to his eighth delivery faced – an airy drive with minimal foot-movement to a ball that was too short for the shot. The edge, off Graham Onions, was smoothly taken by Vikram Solanki in the slips.
Former Aussie wicketkeeper Rod Marsh chats to Fletch

That made it 24-2 in the 11th over, but Hussey and Simon Katich (95) built a strong recovery either side of lunch, adding 141 in less than 30 overs before the Lions were able to taste their next success.

Katich had survived on 37 when mistiming his pull at Sajid Mahmood, Onions at leg-slip failing to snaffle a tough chance.

In the heat of the afternoon, the two left-handers threatened to take the game right away from the Lions with a series of well-timed pulls and drives but then came a flurry of wickets.

First Katich’s attempted hook off Harmison found Onions at fine-leg, before Bresnan enticed Michael Clarke to drive to point. Marcus North’s woeful tour continued when he played Onions onto his stumps from an angled blade and then Bresnan had an lbw appeal upheld after jagging a ball into Brad Haddin’s pads.

So things were looking up for the Lions at tea, even though Hussey was still there on 82. He had added another 13 to his score when Mahmood spilled a chance off his own bowling and duly reached his century soon afterwards.

Australia’s number eight Mitchell Johnson offered fine support in a restorative stand of 109. But he eventually fell for 47, gloving Bresnan behind, before Harmison cleaned up Brett Lee with the second new ball.

Hussey was dropped once more before the close, this time by Adil Rashid at third slip off Harmison. After two decent scores at Hove, this big century will help him forget that he has a poor recent Test record.