Steven Smith continues to impress with bat as Australia in strong position ahead of Ashes

Australia's Steven Smith hits out during day one of the tour match between Kent and Austrlia at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on June 25, 2015 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/GeShow more

CANTERBURY, England // Steven Smith gave another indication of just how far he has come in eight years with a century for Australia against Kent in the Ashes tour opener at Canterbury on Friday.

Australia declared on 507 for eight at lunch on the second day of four, with Smith having made 111. Meanwhile, 21-year-old paceman Matt Hunn, the only Kent bowler to enjoy success against the tourists, completed a distinguished five-wicket haul in just his fourth first-class match on his way to figures of five for 99 in 27 overs.

In 2007, the teenage Smith played a handful of matches for Kent’s second XI and spent the season with local club side Sevenoaks Vine, where he was viewed as a promising leg-spinner who could also bat.

Roll on to 2015 and Smith is now ranked as the world’s leading Test batsman, with an average of better than 56.

Australia, sent in to bat, resumed on 348 for three after openers Mitchell Marsh (114) and Chris Rogers (84), vying for a place alongside the rested David Warner in the first Test against England in Cardiff on July 8, as well as captain Michael Clarke (56), all spent time in the middle.

Smith was 71 not out and fellow all-rounder Shane Watson was unbeaten on eight.

The only time Smith looked in any trouble was on 99 when he charged down the pitch to Australia-born seamer Mitchell Claydon and missed with an expansive drive. However, he soon whipped Claydon off his pads and beyond the mid-wicket rope to complete a 151-ball hundred featuring 11 fours and a six.

That shot came in a run of three successive fours before Smith, who could have represented England through his English-born mother, decided he had enough batting and walked off.

Not for the first time, Watson failed to cash in as all around him scored runs, falling for 21 when well caught by Joe Denly at backward point off Hunn.

And the right-arm fast-medium bowler had a fifth wicket when he dismissed Mitchell Marsh (30) with a swinging delivery that uprooted the off-stump.

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