Australia's seasoned opening batsman, David Warner, responded emphatically to his critics by delivering a dazzling century of 164 runs from 211 balls on the first day of the initial Test against Pakistan. In a swift display of skill, the 37-year-old reached the triple-figure mark in just 125 balls, showcasing his form with 16 boundaries and four maximums. This remarkable innings marked Warner's 26th career century, his first since January 2020.
During this outstanding performance, Warner climbed the ranks of Australia's all-time Test run-getters, surpassing Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke. Notably, his big hundred propelled him past cricket legends Sir Viv Richards and Virender Sehwag in the overall list. Currently, Warner holds the fifth position among Australia's highest Test run-scorers, boasting 8651 runs and trailing behind only Steve Smith, Steve Waugh, Allan Border, and Ricky Ponting.
Warner's aggressive yet justified approach vindicated Pat Cummins' decision to bat first on the challenging Perth surface. Achieving a half-century in just 41 balls, he formed a rapid century partnership with Usman Khawaja.
While some teammates struggled to capitalize on good starts, with Smith being the next-highest scorer with 41 runs, Warner went on to complete his 26th Test century. His trademark leap and celebration followed this milestone.
Despite a couple of close calls, including missed catches and a failed stumping attempt, Warner continued to dominate, reaching 150 runs. Pakistan eventually found success against Warner using the short-ball tactic, resulting in the Aussie opener getting caught in the deep a few overs before the end of the day's play.
Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey then guided Australia through the remaining overs without further setbacks, steering the team to a commanding position with 346 runs on the board and five wickets down.
Warner's place in the Test side became a topic of public debate after former pace ace Mitchell Johnson questioned the hero's send-off, highlighting Warner's involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in a column for the West Australian.
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