Cricket: ASHES TEST: Strauss hails his best ever.

ANDREW STRAUSS declared his seventh Test hundred the best of the lot - but he swears he did not enjoy a minute of it.

Strauss struck 129 before becoming the last of Shane Warne's five victims at The Oval, where England have the opportunity to close out a first Ashes win over Australia for 18 years by avoiding defeat.

The 28-year-old's stand of 143 alongside Andrew Flintoff, who struck 72, was crucial in addressing a perilous position of 131-4 - after the home side won the toss - and it moved them on to 319-7 at the close.

"In terms of importance it is the best I have ever played," said Strauss of his six-hour contribution. "Today was a massive day in the context of the series and it was vital that one of us went on and got a hundred.

"I didn't really enjoy it at any stage because of the game situation. There was not a time at which we didn't feel under pressure.

"The high level of expectation has been very hard to get away from over the last week or so, that is what has made this game so exciting to be part of."

When he provided a bat-pad chance to silly point late on, it was the fifth time Warne has ousted Strauss in nine innings.

"You only get to judge what the high and low percentage shots against him are by playing him a few times, getting in his mind a little bit to work out how he is trying to get you out," said Strauss.

"The comments are all part of his kidology, I suppose. He tries to put pressure on you both with the way he bowls and the stuff he comes out with."

Warne reflected: "He had a bit of luck but you have to give him credit, it doesn't matter how you look when you get there. A hundred is a hundred."

Warne's first intervention came in his third over, from the Vauxhall end, when Marcus Trescothick edged low to first slip.

It sparked a spell of 4-16 for Test cricket's most prolific bowler.

"We were staring down the barrel," admitted Warne, who sent down 34 overs for a return of five for 118. "It has been a trademark of the series that England get ahead and we fight back.

"The momentum out there was swinging all the time throughout the day but we have just got our noses in front.

"Hopefully some of the guys with the new rock can get those wickets pretty quickly in the morning because I am tired." Warne, 36 next week, is featuring in his final Ashes series.

"I don't think anyone likes to go out on a losing series," Warne said. "I haven't played in one against England before and hopefully if we play well here this will be the same

CAPTION(S):

England batsman Andrew Strauss celebrates making his hundred against Australia at the Oval yesterday Picture: CHRIS YOUNG