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Australia's star batter David Warner stormed into record book with yet another milestone during Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa on Monday (December 26). Warner became the third opener to feature in 100 Tests for his country (Australia). The star Australian southpaw is in the top 10 of the list including openers with the most runs in the longest format of the game. He has hammered 24 tons so far, which is the second most by any opener from Australia. Not just this, he also became the 14th Australian cricketer to play 100 Tests after he was named in the Playing XI in the second Test against Proteas.
The flamboyant southpaw also shared an emotional post ahead of his 100th Test match.
“The little things we dream of!! One test match and a Baggy green. Now playing my 100th, words can not explain. Game day, let’s go!!” Warner's post on Twitter read.
Warner has been in poor form lately and only scored three runs in two innings in the first Test as Australia defeated South Africa. But the lack of form is obviously not going to take the sheen off his great achievement.
Warner, who scored 32 off 51 on Day 1 of the second Test against Proteas, had scored 7922 runs at an average of 45.52 with a strike rate of 71.20 before the match. Talking about the match, Australia rode on Cameron Green's brilliant fifer to reduce South Africa to just 189 while Warner and Marnus Labuschagne were still intact on the crease at 45/1 at the close of Day's play.
Even though there are criticisms on his current form in the longest format of the game, Warner's statistics and records are worth looking at. Let's highlight his records and performance so far.
In the list of batters since 1992 to cross the 3000-run-mark in the Tests, he is the third fastest to reach the feat. Only Virender Sehwag and Adam Gilchrist are ahead of him. Only four active batters have reached the milestone of 3000 runs or more. Three of those are from the famous Fab Four - Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson.
When it comes to Warner's performance in Australia, he has scored 4929 runs from 53 matches with an average of 57.30. He has smashed 18 of his 24 Test centuries at home. Before 2021, Warner played 43 Test matches and scored 4484 runs including 18 centuries and 12 fifties at an average of 65.9 in Australia. On the other hand, since 2021, he has played 10 matches and scored 445 runs at an average of 24.7 including two half-centuries.
Warner's previous five Test innings:
AUS vs SA: 3 runs (17 December 2022)
AUS vs SA: No runs scored (17 December 2022)
AUS vs WI: 28 runs (8 December 2022)
AUS vs WI: 21 runs (8 December 20220
AUS vs WI: 48 runs (30 November 2022)
Meanwhile right ahead of the MCG Test, Warner told reporters,“It’s the same old cliche but it’s obviously a massive occasion. “I’m living every housing commission boy’s dream — I wanted to play cricket for Australia and I’m doing that now.”
“My back’s up against the wall but it’s in my DNA to keep being competitive and take on whatever opposition I’m going to face … I couldn’t be any more proud of myself, my family for getting me here and my closest friends,” he further added.
