NICK HOWSON: This was the 23-year-old's fifth century in senior cricket. And it might be his most significant yet.
"Every interview I've done in the last year-and-a-half it has been brought up. It was in a practice game so, in my mind, it didn't really happen."
When Will Jacks struck a 25-ball century in a T10 match for Surrey against Lancashire in Dubai in 2019, little did he know that an innings so preciously few actually saw would follow him for so long.
It has taken quite the body of work to navigate away from that assault in a practice game more than three years ago.
Being named the T20 Blast MVP in 2020, playing in the Big Bash, Bangladesh Premier League, and Pakistan Super League, and breaking new ground in red-ball cricket; that display is firmly behind him now.
That UAE knock feels like a footnote on Jacks' impressive CV. Now a centurion across all three formats following his three-figure score for Oval Invincibles against reigning men's Hundred champions Southern Brave, the next chapter of his career is firmly upon us.
Southern Brave were powerless to stop Jacks (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
And that portion undoubtedly includes England recognition. Perhaps the Pakistan T20s and the World Cup is too soon (it isn't) but we're on the brink of finding out if Jacks' domestic and franchise achievements can be repeated on the international circuit (it can).
This was a brutal innings including eight sixes, peppering the long-on boundary on five occasions. Marcus Stoinis was sent on his way to Australia, going to the rope four times and Rehan Ahmed was given a thump back down to earth, as the final balls of the match were dispatched into the crowd.
The Kia Oval crowd need no introduction to Jacks' abilities. But the anticipation around every delivery, the buzz around the ground when he got on strike - not least before unleashing Ahmed to the boundary - was one of the defining features of his innings.
"It's a pretty amazing feeling," he said. "The best thing was every time I got on strike, everyone was cheering and everyone wanted me to get there."
Senior England recognition is just around the corner (Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
The highest score in men's Hundred history was the second century of the week after Will Smeed struck the first for Birmingham Phoenix. The Somerset opener is a rival to open for England this winter, but Jacks' off-spin and ability in the field gives him the edge.
"Smeedy scored the first hundred the other day and I have tonight, there's so much competition which encourages you to keep working hard and obviously we want to play for England so we keep pushing," he added in the post-match presentation.
This was the 12th time Jacks and scooped the player of the match prize, 10 of which have come since those Dubai fireworks. Only Dawid Malan has more runs in the men's competition. This level of dominance is par for the course now.
"Seriously special from Will Jacks," said Invincibles captain Sam Billings. "He deserved it, didn't he? From ball one he looked like he was batting on a different wicket today.
"He's class, some quality shots there. It's not just clearing the front leg and hitting cow corner, he really is a class act."
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.