Watson cracks ton before lunch Shane Watson plays a text-book cover drive during his unbeaten hundred at Worcester on Tuesday. No wonder Shane Watson wanted to open. All his dramas melted away in the shadows of Worcester Cathedral on Tuesday as the former vice-captain powered to a century before lunch in Australia's final warm-up for the Ashes. Watson, in his first outing with new opening partner Chris Rogers, pounded the county attack to reach his century in just 94 balls. It was his first hundred at first-class level since the last of his two Test centuries, which was his 126 in Mohali in October 2010. In almost three years since, Watson's career has been dogged by injuries, poor form and general unhappiness. Darren Lehmann's decision to restore Watson to the opening spot where he has had most success seems to be working. He smashed 90 in 94 balls in the opening tour match against Somerset and he didn't let up against a modest Worcestershire attack. His century was studded with 14 fours and two sixes, the second a monstrous straight hit off medium-pacer Jack Shantry. His innings was not all about brute force - he got going with a drive caressed forward of point - but he later carved three savage boundaries in an over as he closed in on his century. He reached the milestone with a single three overs before lunch, and his celebration consisted of a subdued gesture to the dressing room and a businesslike handshake with Rogers. What really counts is what Watson does in the Test series against England's attack from July 10 but already Australia's batting looks more dangerous with him at the top. The Watson-Rogers partnership made a bright start and Australia went to lunch at 0-150. The right-hander's power off the front and back foot at one end enabled Rogers to settle in at the other, and he was unbeaten on 43 after the morning session. The Victorian veteran made his runs unobtrusively, but still hit eight boundaries, one of which came from an inside edge that missed his stumps by centimetres. Ed Cowan, displaced from the opening position by Rogers, was listed to come in at one-drop and needs runs at Worcester to stake a claim for another Test batting spot.