WATCH: Big Show's bat explodes

Glenn Maxwell strode out to the crease just 18 runs shy of his first Test century, focused, ready.

But no matter how much visualising he undertook this morning there is no way he foresaw what was going to happen to him first ball of the morning. No way. At all.

Indian quick Yadav steamed in, dropped one on a length and Maxwell stepped forward to meet it with a straight bat, a nice defensive prod to get things under way.

The ball hit the middle of the bat which would have pleased Maxwell, but then the bat snapped. Pretty much in half.

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The commentators said they'd never seen anything like it.

It didn’t break at the splice which happens occasionally when someone is swinging for the fences.

It broke two thirds of the way up, the bat looking like it had exploded.

Maxwell could do nothing but offer a wry smile and collect a replacement bat from the sheds.

Some may have taken it as a bad omen but not The Big Show. He got off the mark with a boundary and continued like nothing had happened, on his quest for a Test ton.

He didn't have to wait long either. Just a few overs later with a cut through backward point for four Maxwell reached triple figures.

He let out a scream of pure joy and saluted the Aussie changeroom.

It was an exemplary innings, the 100 coming from 180 balls.

Now to go on with it.