David Warner launched his Test cricket swansong with a belligerent century on day one to dominate an inexperienced Pakistan attack as Australia gained an early stranglehold of the series-opener at Optus Stadium.
Warner reached his 26th Test ton late in the second session with an upper cut to the boundary to trigger his trademark leaping celebration. He had come into the match on the back of a recent public spat with former team-mate and adopted local Mitchell Johnson, who was at the ground.
Warner’s form at Test level had long been questioned having previously scored just one century over the last three years. But the faith instilled in Warner, who plans to retire from Test cricket at the end of the series, has paid off as he passed Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke to move into fifth place on Australia’s run scoring list.
Warner has now scored six Test centuries against Pakistan with an average of almost 90. His brilliant 164 off 211 balls ended late in the day when he succumbed to a short-ball tactic from debutant quick Aamer Jamal.
Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey survived the second new ball and will look to drive home Australia’s advantage on day two.
Pakistan’s chances of ending a 14-Test losing streak in Australia look already forlorn after the opening day of the three-match series. It was a tough start for new captain Shan Masood, whose optimism heading into the series quickly eroded after a ragged performance from his team in the field.
Bounce and pace was evident on a surface with a smattering of grass covering as occasional deliveries reared. But Pakistan’s quicks did not bowl consistently on a length and there were too many full deliveries which were treated with disdain from Warner.
Pakistan’s hierarchy are already facing question marks after not selecting a specialist spinner and opting for debutant quicks Jamal and Khurram Shahzad ahead of veteran Hasan Ali.
But Shahzad justified his selection with an impressive spell after lunch, where he made the ball jag around and bowled tightly. He was rewarded in the final session after having a well-set Steven Smith caught behind on 31 with a superb delivery.
Jamal, however, was wayward but ended as Pakistan’s only multiple wicket-taker having also claimed Travis Head who was caught at fly slip on 40 in a well-worked plan. BBC
Australia: 346 for 5 (Warner 164, Khawaja 41, Head 40) vs Pakistan
