Australia's newest Test centurion Kurtis Patterson says being dropped first ball against Sri Lanka had woken him up after waiting to bat for four hours.
The 25-year-old watched on as Joe Burns and Travis Head steered Australia out of trouble at 3-28 on Friday's first day of the second Test as they put together a record 308-run stand.
But Patterson should have been walking straight back off Canberra's Manuka Oval for a golden duck after a sitter was put down at short leg.
But when he eventually left the crease, Patterson had an unbeaten 114 next to his name and a Test average of 144.
"I was bloody furious with myself," he told reporters.
"I'd watched the boys play the spinners with reasonable ease for four hours sitting there.
"It's just such a funny game. If that gets caught, then I'm not sitting here and talking to you guys."
Patterson's 192-ball knock, which included 14 fours and one six, backed up a promising 30 in difficult conditions facing the swinging pink ball on Test debut at the Gabba.
By making Sri Lanka pay for the costly dropped catch, the New South Welshman became Australia's third century maker of the match.
Australia's drought of hundreds, since October in Dubai, ended with a flood as Patterson joined Joe Burns and Travis Head in reaching three figures.
After getting through the first-ball scare, Patterson feasted on an inexperienced Sri Lankan bowling line-up with a number of impressive pull shots.
He brought up his milestone from 173 balls after lunch on day two with a superb cover drive for three. He celebrated while his family and friends applauded from the stands.
His dad Brad was so happy about the innings he told Fox Sports he would have a "1000 beers" to celebrate.
It was Patterson's seventh first-class ton, continuing a golden run which led to him being picked in Australia's squad for the first Test in Brisbane.
The 25-year-old peeled off an unbeaten Sheffield Shield century in November against Western Australia but selectors rushed him into the side after dual tons for a Cricket Australia XI last month in Hobart.
That game in Tasmania was also against Sri Lanka, meaning the visitors had been on the end of three Patterson centuries in 16 days.
With this match being Australia's final Test before the Ashes in August, Patterson's seamless start to his international career has made him a lock for that trip.
Patterson's partnership with captain Tim Paine finished unbeaten on 130 as the skipper declared 55 minutes into the second session at 5-534.
