David Warner continued to run riot with the bat as he hammered a robust double century in his 100th Test appearance on Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa on Tuesday (December 27). Riding on his superlative 200 off 254, he achieved a rare milestone as he became the first Australian and second overall after England's Joe Root to hit double cent in his 100th Test. It was Warner's third double ton of his Test career.
Warner also became only the second player to score a century in both his 100th ODI as well as 100th Test, after Gordon Greenidge, and became the eighth Australian to pass 8000 Test runs during the course of his innings.
Warner defied everything, be it heat, exhaustion and a cramping body to belt 200 runs at the MCG to steer Australia to a commanding 344/3 after Cameron Green rattled Proteas to just 189 riding on an exceptional spell of 5.27. The 36-year-old clobbered the South Afrian bowlers on all parts of the park to reach his third double hundred in Tests before getting retired hurt. His knock was decorated with 16 fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Australia's star southpaw Warner silenced his critics in style as he struck a blistering century in his 100th appearance in the longest format to end his century drought. Warner hammered a scintillating century when Australia's scoreboard read 205/2. It was Warner's 25th Test century and 45th International ton, which came after a wait of almost three years as he last belted a century in January 2020.
Warner completed his century in just 144 balls with a four down the on-side off Kagiso Rabada. He became just the 10th batter and second Australian in Test history to hit a hundred on their 100th match in the longest format. Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting is the only batter to score two centuries in his 100th Test.
Warner's last 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)
The 36-year-old, who made his Test debut in 2011, also crossed the 8000-run mark en-route to his knock as he became only the eighth Australian batter to taste this feat. Warner’s 25 Test tons places him in the fifth spot among all openers in Test cricket. Sunil Gavaskar (33), Alastair Cook (31), Matthew Hayden (30) and Graeme Smith (27) are the only batters ahead of Warner in this list.
Warner (45) also has the second-most international centuries among active players, only behind Virat Kohli (72). The dashing left-hander also equalled Sachin Tendulkar (45) for most tons as opener across formats.
Australia are in a commanding position after the opening session of the second Test at the MCG.
After Cameron Green ripped the heart out of the South African batting order with 5/27 on the opening day, it was over to David Warner on day two.
