Burns Fight! Rory's superb ton on day two of the first Test inspired by meeting with the 2005 Ashes heroes

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England opener Rory Burns marked his Ashes debut with a superb hundred, then admitted he felt 'ready to run through a brick wall' after meeting with the legendary 2005 winners on the eve of the series.

Burns, who finished the second day of the first Test unbeaten on 125 as England reached a healthy 267 for four in reply to Australia's 284, said: 'The night before, I probably played my first ball a few times and probably celebrated a hundred a few times. To get over the line today is a wonderful feeling.

'It's quite an attritional wicket and that probably suits how I go about my business. It was just nice to keep going and stay on the treadmill and be as stubborn as I could be.'

Rory Burns scored a superb century on day two of the first Ashes Test, on his Ashes debut

Burns finished the second day of the first Test unbeaten on 125 as England reached 267 for four

Burns had been written off in many quarters after a double failure in last week's Test against Ireland took his average to a lowly 22 from seven matches. But he sought out a figure he had known since the age of six: Surrey academy coach Neil Stewart, brother of the club's director of cricket Alec. The move paid dividends.

'I just asked him what he reckoned and he gleaned out a few thoughts for me. I tried to get a bat in hand as much as I could. It was just about staying true to what's got me here.'

Burns described the feeling of hearing the Barmy Army sing his name to the tune of a song once reserved for Alastair Cook as 'pretty cool', and searched for the words to describe his emotions at becoming an Ashes centurion.

Burns described the feeling of hearing the Barmy Army sing his name as 'pretty cool'

'To be an Ashes cricketer in the first place is a wonderful thing,' he said. 'We connected with some of the 2005 winners the night before, and I was ready to run through a brick wall at that stage and get right in among it.'

'The Hollies Stand was rocking when I was in the 90s, and to get over the line there a quick dash will be a pretty special memory. Hopefully I've still got a few more left in me.'

And he even earned some word of praise from former Australian captain Steve Waugh, here as a mentor for the tourists.

'He obviously knows his game really well and to get a hundred on that pitch is a really good performance in Ashes cricket,' he said. 'It was really important for his side, so I give him full credit. He certainly played and missed a few times, but you needed a bit of luck. He showed a lot of character, so he's got to be proud of that.'