Aided by sloppy Australian fielding and two questionable decisions that went his way, the Surrey left-hander compiled a patient 124 to help the tourists reach stumps at 264 for five after they were 32 for two before lunch.

Butcher shared in a 166-run partnership with captain Nasser Hussain to rebuild the innings after openers Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick went cheaply.

Vaughan, the world's leading runscorer in 2002, made an awful start to his New Year when he was dismissed for a duck while Trescothick went for 19.

Butcher and Hussain restored the innings before Hussain departed after tea for 75, followed by the hapless Robert Key for three. Butcher left shortly before the close to leave honours even.

Butcher and Hussain had their luck, with legspinner Stuart MacGill dropping a simple return catch off Hussain when the skipper was on six and Butcher surviving no less than four-let offs.

He was dropped off a sharp chance by Damien Martyn on 13 and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist on 43, and also got the benefit of doubt for two decisions which television replays suggested should have been out.

First, fast bowler Brett Lee struck him on the pads. Then he got another life on 95 when he was adjudged not out after Matthew Hayden claimed a bat-pad catch at silly-point.

Despite that, Butcher showed touches of brilliance as he registered his sixth Test hundred and his third against Australia, batting 337 minutes and striking 19 boundaries off 276 balls.

He was dismissed after tea dragging a ball from Lee onto his stumps.

The Australians, chasing their first 5-0 series whitewash over England in 83 years, went into the match without their two main bowlers Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, but still threatened to rip through the English top order.

Lee captured Vaughan's prized scalp for a duck in a fiery opening spell when the Yorkshireman got a faint edge to an outswinger and Gilchrist took a clean catch in the fourth over of the morning.

Trescothick and Butcher added a patient 28 for the second wicket before Andy Bichel, recalled to replace the injured McGrath, got rid of Trescothick in the first over after drinks.

The Somerset left-hander got a thick edge to a wide delivery and Gilchrist took a brilliant one-handed catch diving in front of Martin Love at first slip.

England went to lunch at 79 for two and batted through the entire second session without losing a wicket before Hussain fell after tea with the total on 198; he gloved a ball from Jason Gillespie to Gilchrist, ending an innings spanning three and a half hours and featuring eight fours.

Australian captain Steve Waugh, playing in his world record equalling 156th Test, celebrated his achievement by removing Key, who played all round a friendly-paced straight ball to fall leg before.