David Warner hit a scintillating century to begin his farewell Test series as Australia reached 346/5 against Pakistan’s inexperienced bowlers on the opening day of the three-match series.
Warner’s commanding 164 off 211 balls — his first Test century in a year — vindicated captain Pat Cummins’ decision to bat first on a hard bouncy pitch.
The 37-year-old Warner, who will be retiring after the last Test in his Sydney hometown, made Pakistan toil in the first couple of sessions before he holed out at deep square leg in the last hour. He hit 16 fours and four sixes.
Mitchell Marsh was unbeaten on 15 on his home ground and Alex Carey was 14 not
out after a great first day for Australia.
Pakistan went into the Test match without a specialist spinner and handed debuts to fast bowlers Aamer Jamal (2/63) and Khurram Shahzad (1/62).
More importantly, they twice missed opportunities to dismiss Warner. Shahzad missed an overhead catch at mid-on after Warner completed his 26th Test hundred, and Sarfaraz Ahmed fumbled a difficult stumping chance just before Warner reached 150.
Pakistan had their most productive period in the last session when they claimed three wickets.
Shahzad had Steve Smith caught behind for 31 off a delivery that shaped away, and Travis Head (40) and Warner went while going for aggressive shots against Jamal.
Warner, enduring a lean patch in Test cricket since his double hundred against South Africa in Melbourne last year, was criticised for being given a chance in the Perth Test,
but the left-hander responded in style.
He and Usman Khawaja, with 41, were ruthless during their century stand in the first session when they romped to 117 for no loss.
Warner completed his half-century off just 41 balls but slowed down after lunch. He reached his sixth Test hundred against Pakistan off 125 balls with an uppercut four off Jamal and celebrated his century with his trademark leap. Khawaja took a backseat to Warner’s aggression.
Khawaja's armband protest
Australia batter Usman Khawaja wasn’t allowed to wear shoes branded with an “all lives are equal” humanitarian message, so he wore a black armband instead
on Thursday, the first day of the series-opening Test against Pakistan.
Australia's Usman Khawaja on field wearing a black armband on Thursday. Getty Images
The International Cricket Council (ICC) intervened on Wednesday after Khawaja indicated he planned to wear shoes during the match that featured messages to highlight the loss of innocent lives in the Israel-Hamas war. The ICC’s policies prohibit displays of political or religious statements on team uniforms or equipment.
Khawaja said he’d abide by the ruling to avoid individual or team sanctions, but would challenge the ICC’s stance. “Freedom is a human right, and all rights are equal,” he said in a social media post. “I will never stop believing that.”
Khawaja, the first Muslim to play Test cricket for Australia, wore the black armband to show solidarity with people suffering in Gaza.
