Dawid Malan was delighted with his "ruthlessness" as he struck his first Test hundred for England to leave them healthily-placed after day one in Perth.
Malan (110no) put on an unbroken stand of 174 with Jonny Bairstow (75no) for the fifth wicket as England closed on 305-4 in a match they must not lose if they are to remain in with a chance of retaining the Ashes.
The Middlesex left-hander scored 56 in the Ashes opener in Brisbane, having hit half-centuries against Windies over the summer at Edgbaston and Headingley, and says his first century nearly reduced him to tears.
"I have felt pretty comfortable in games and it was about making sure that when I got in I was ruthless enough to get through those tough periods," said Malan, who came in with England 115-3 in the 33rd over following the exits of Alastair Cook (7), James Vince (25) and Joe Root (20).
"Every time you open the newspaper, you read how poor you are - it is nice to tick a box and prove to yourself that you can play at this level and that you can score hundreds. That's how you get rated.
"It was so emotional - I didn't know what to do when I reached a hundred, I almost started crying. To do it in front of [my parents] who have made so many sacrifices [was pleasing].
"I haven't felt like I was going to get out at any point - I have just given it away or got a good ball in other innings.
"When I walked out to bat it was tough and then an hour later there was another tough period but I got through. I was under a bit of pressure coming into the game so it was nice to get some runs, especially when the team needed them.
"You don't really feel like you're enjoying it at the time but it was great fun to get through those situations. [Australia's pace attack] tests you in different ways - not only technically but your heart as well."
Malan was at the non-striker's end as Mark Stoneman was controversially given out caught behind on review off Mitchell Starc.
Third umpire Aleem Dar decided there was conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field decision, despite Snicko and Hotspot suggesting the ball had brushed Stoneman's back glove, which was off the bat.
TV replays, which Dar had not called for at the time, later showed Starc's delivery may have brushed the front glove.
"From the naked eye you can't tell," said Malan. "I didn't think he gloved it from my angle and when I spoke to Rocky [Stoneman] in between he thought it flicked his helmet.
"But you can't really argue with what happens - if we are going to be backing technology and it says you're out, you're out."
Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine added: "We thought it was out straightaway. I have only seen one replay - a slow-mo close up - and I thought it looked pretty good."