HOBART, Australia (Reuters)
Justin Langer, fresh from scoring his third century in successive Tests, said the experience of being dropped had made him a better player.

Opener Langer hit 123 in Australia's 411 for six against New Zealand on the first day of the second Test. He admitted he had been at rock-bottom before being recalled for the fifth Ashes Test against England in August.

"You've got to sometimes hit the absolute depths before you can start re-climbing up the mountain," Langer said.

"I'm really happy that I went through that in England because I'm playing the game now as I'd like to play the game."

Langer, who hit 20 boundaries off 153 balls, shared an opening stand of 223 with Matthew Hayden, who made 91 after New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming had invited Australia to bat at Bellerive Oval.

Langer was dropped for the first Test in England this year and was recalled for the fifth Test in a new role of opener.

He responded with 102 retired and an opening partnership of 158 with Hayden. The pair scored a record for Australia against New Zealand of 224 in the first Test in Brisbane this month.

"We just take it in our stride. We've really enjoyed the first three (opening) partnerships we've had together," Langer said.

On Thursday Langer became the first player since David Boon in 1993 to score centuries in three consecutive Tests for Australia.

Langer scored 104 in the drawn first Test after he was lucky not to be given out lbw in the first over of the match.

He was dropped on one on Thursday after slashing Daryl Tuffey's first ball of the day to point where Matthew Bell could not hold a head-high chance.

"If he had taken that catch it would have been a sensational catch because I absolutely smoked it," said Langer, who turned 31 this week.

"A bit of luck is always handy, for sure. Life's pretty good isn't it?"

Fleming said: "It was a very disappointing day. When you put a team in and come away with a day like that, we probably got it wrong," he was quoted as saying by New Zealand Press Association.

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