It was a day for batting as Australia took full command of the tour match against Kent at Canterbury.

Chris Rogers, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith and Michael Clarke all filled their boots as the touring Australians warmed up for the Ashes in style as the sun shone at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence.

Rogers let his cricket make the headlines again by scoring 84, where opening partner Shaun Marsh laid down his own Ashes claim with an impressive century as the tourists coasted to 348 for three.

Rogers was earlier this week caught up in controversy when it emerged a company he co-founded had been blocked from selling hospitality packages for the sell-out Lord’s Ashes Test.

The 37-year-old is determined to put the misunderstandings behind him, and gave the required response in front of a bumper crowd of more than 5,000 at Canterbury.

Having been forced to miss Australia’s matches in the West Indies because of concussion after being struck in the nets, Rogers showed the sort of form which brought him six successive half-centuries in Tests against India, eventually being trapped leg before wicket after lunch by Matt Hunn.

However, left-hander Marsh – who filled in alongside David Warner for the Caribbean tour and is out to retain his place to open in the first Ashes Test at Sophia Gardens – also impressed with 114, including 14 fours from 196 deliveries, on a day when the tourists were rarely troubled.

Kent had won the toss on what was a glorious morning and put Australia in to bat, much to the surprise of many in the ground, although the powers that be from both sides would have been delighted for very different reasons.

Wicketkeeper Sam Billings returned from international duty with England, but Kent seamer David Griffiths will miss the rest of the season with a back injury which requires surgery.

Regular opener Warner was one of those rested by the tourists, along with paceman Mitchell Starc and batsman Adam Voges. Australia had moved towards 40 without loss after an hour’s play, before Rogers, at 21, was somewhat fortunate to see second slip Adam Riley just fail to hold a catch off the bowling of Mitch Claydon.

Rogers went on to bring up his half-century just before lunch, coming off 89 balls, with eight boundaries. By the 1pm interval, Australia were on 108, with Marsh unbeaten on 45 and Rogers at 53.

Following the resumption, Marsh, who scored 69 during the second Test against the West Indies in Kingston, also passed his half-century.

Australia coasted on, before Riley nearly took a caught-and-bowled chance as Rogers, on 83, sent a full toss back down the wicket just ahead of the drinks break. The breakthrough finally came in the next over, when Rogers was trapped lbw by Matt Hunn, out for 84 from 150 deliveries, with 11 boundaries, and Australia were 181 for one.

Australia vice-captain Steve Smith came in at number three, and promptly smashed a six back over Riley’s head to bring up the 200. Marsh, 31, soon moved into three figures, his century coming off 172 deliveries, with a dozen boundaries, as Australia pushed on to 236 at tea.

Kent struck again soon after the restart when Marsh’s wild swing off Hunn’s delivery was caught by a diving Daniel Bell-Drummond at deep point. Smith, who once played for Kent 2nd XIs, went on to make an unbeaten 71 by stumps, while skipper Michael Clarke added 56 before he was caught behind down the leg side off Hunn, Australia at 337 for three.

Shane Watson ended the day on eight not out. Hunn, the 21-year-old right-armer, was the pick of Kent’s bowlers, with three for 78 from 21 overs.

 

Kent won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Kent side: Northeast*, Bell-Drummond, Denly, Key, Harmison, Ball, Billings+, Claydon, Hunn, Riley, Thomas.

Australia side: Rogers, S Marsh, Smith, Clarke, Watson, M Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Harris, Siddle, Fawad.

Umpires: BJ Deebenham & NJ Llong

Close of play day one: Australia 348/3 (S Marsh 114, Rogers 84, Smith 71*; Hunn 3/78).