Emotional scenes in Dominica as West Australian achieves long-awaited Baggy Green dream
Centurion reflects on 'pure elation'
When Adam Voges was told on Tuesday he would be making his Test debut, he was understandably keen to call home to Perth and deliver the news to his family.
But the man who would become Australia's 442nd Test cricketer had trouble getting wife Kristy on the phone – and there's little wonder why.
"It's a funny one actually. My wife actually knew I was playing the game before I did," Voges explained on Thursday after becoming just the 20th Australian to score a century on Test debut.
"Cricket Australia got a message back to her before I'd actually found out myself so no wonder she wasn't answering my phone calls when I rang."
Quick Single: Voges family rides Adam’s Test debut
Knowing that Voges was a strong chance to play, Cricket Australia had organised for his family to send a congratulatory video message across to the Caribbean, and their efforts to do so had let the cat out of the bag.
While Voges' loved ones weren't able to be here in Dominica to watch him realise a dream he thought may never come true, their words of support gave him an extra boost before play on the opening day.
"I got a lovely message from my family, obviously they would have loved to be here," Voges said.
Video: Voges' press conference in full
"I got to watch that before play yesterday. So that was a really special moment.
"I spoke to them last night after play. They were all pretty bleary eyed from staying up and watching all night so I'm pretty sure they're going to be pretty tired when I speak to them again tonight."
Voges couldn't wipe the smile off his face on Thursday evening, despite undoubtedly being drained from spending almost three sessions at the crease over the course of two days.
Quick Single: Voges century puts Australia on top
Resuming day two on 20 not out, Voges added just 25 runs in the first session as Devendra Bishoo cut a swathe through Australia's middle-order with the wickets of Steve Smith, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin.
With the match in the balance, Voges was given brilliant support from the lower order as Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood helped the Australians add 192 for their final four wickets.
Such was the situation of the match early in the day, Voges said thoughts of reaching three figures didn't enter his mind until he moved into the 90s.
By that stage, Australia were nine wickets down and No.11 Josh Hazlewood had been shaken up when he struck on the grille of his helmet by a short ball from Shannon Gabriel that stayed lower than expected.
Apart from that over from Gabriel – Voges made a slight misjudgement first ball of the over to get only a single and leave Hazlewood on strike – the Western Australian had expertly farmed the strike and moved his way through the 80s with a series of singles and a powerful straight drive off Jason Holder.
And when he launched Jerome Taylor over wide long-on for six, Voges had moved to 98 and a slice of history was within reach.
A fumble from Holder at mid-off next ball saw Voges move to 99 with just one ball left in the over – which Hazlewood survived – and the 35-year-old reached three figures with a clip off his pads from the first ball of the next over to spark wild celebrations.
"It's a bit of a blur really, to be honest," Voges said of the moment he registered his century. "Obviously I'd had an excellent partnership with Josh Hazlewood.
"I was on 99 and he blocked that ball, the last ball from that over and there was a big roar from the crowd.
"We hadn't been taken the runs from the first couple of balls from the over and I came down and said 'I might take the first one this time mate' and he said 'yeah, that's OK’.
"Massive excitement. Massive relief.
"I just yelled I think. I just had my hands up in the air yelling. Just pure elation.
"It's been a long road, it's been a lot of hard work.
"Just to get the opportunity firstly and then to make the most of it and get a hundred on debut, is something I've been thinking about for a long time."