Nasser Hussain hit the first century of the Ashes tour today as England continued their revival with a determined batting display against a strong Western Australia line-up at the WACA.

The England captain scored a superb 117 to guide the tourists to 327 all out as they claimed a 114-run first-innings lead, having already dismissed a WA line-up which included Australia Test batsman Justin Langer for a lowly 213.

Hussain's efforts lifted England's spirits after their disappointing performances in the opening game at Lilac Hill and the two-day match against a second-string WA line-up. They will have been noted by watching Australian selector David Boon, with the opening Test at Brisbane less than a fortnight away.

Resuming on 54-0 after Robert Key and Marcus Trescothick enjoyed a boundary spree during the nine overs under lights last night, England had hoped for another positive start.

The tourists clearly did not adapt as they would have liked to a start brought forward by 30 minutes to make up the time lost to rain on the opening day and they lost Kent batsman Key inside the first five overs in contentious circumstances.

Key had raced to an unbeaten 33 off only 30 deliveries but failed to add to his overnight score this morning before Brad Williams had him adjudged caught in the gully.

Key got a leading edge low to Matt Nicholson at gully, and the umpire raised his finger - although Key's expression indicated he thought the ball may have bounced first.

Trescothick re-started his innings cautiously. But having progressed to within four runs of his first half-century of the tour, he also fell pushing forward to Nicholson and edging to Mike Hussey at third slip.

In came Mark Butcher to play his first significant innings of the tour, combining with Hussain in an important 59-run partnership.

The Surrey left-hander scored 29 in more than two hours before offering no shot to go lbw to Jo Angel in the final over before lunch.

John Crawley helped the England captain add 79 for the fourth wicket, hitting a promising 45. But the Hampshire batsman perished against fast bowler Stuart Karppinen when he dragged an attempted back-foot drive on to his stumps.

Alec Stewart also teamed up with Hussain in another half-century partnership before he fell driving wildly at fast bowler Angel and edging to Hussey at second slip.

Hussain eventually fell pushing forward tiredly and edging behind - and his departure started a lower-order collapse which saw five wickets fall for 15 runs in six overs.

Nicholson finished with six for 79 to almost match his achievement in this same fixture four years ago when he grabbed seven for 77 against England.

Andrew Caddick made early amends for England's batting collapse when he made a quick breakthrough in WA's second innings, trapping Scott Meuleman lbw in a total of 16 for one by the close.

Langer did not open the innings, because he was receiving treatment for a stiff neck.