Birmingham: Australia's Steven Smith said he had contemplated the end of his career after marking his first Test since a year-long ball tampering ban with a superb century on the opening day of the 2019 Ashes.

The tourists were struggling at 17-2 here on Thursday when Smith walked out to bat and they later collapsed to 122-8. But Smith, ignoring the repeated boos of the crowd, made 144 in a total of 284 after Australia won the toss.