Warner silences critics with a double ton in 100th Test
Veteran Australian opener dominates hapless South Africa in Boxing Day Test
Short of runs and under pressure, David Warner entered the Boxing Day Test against South Africa issuing a reminder to the doubters never to underestimate the fight of a “housing commission boy” living the dream.
On day two of his 100th Test yesterday, the veteran Australian opener retired on 200 after tea in cramped-up exhaustion after tormenting the Proteas in a Melbourne Cricket Ground furnace, quashing all debate about his place in the side.
Australia were 386 for three, in reply to the visitors’ first innings 189, with a lead of 197 runs and the series at their mercy after the six-wicket win in the Brisbane opener.
His wife Candice cheered him from the crowd. “For him to be able to do it while his back is against the wall means even more” she told Fox Cricket. “You’d think by now writing David off is probably the wrong thing to do. He thrives on that.”
8,000 runs in Tests
For him to be able to do it while his back is against the wall means even more. You’d think by now writing David off is probably the wrong thing to do. He thrives on that.” Candice » David Warner’s wife, on his epic double century
On the way to his third double-century, Warner smashed his 25th hundred, and first in nearly three years, while becoming Australia’s eighth player to notch 8,000 runs in Tests.
Five years on from scoring a century in his 100th one-day international against India in Bangalore, the 36-yearold ripped off his helmet and made his trademark leap into the steaming Melbourne air.
Hours later, baked in 37 degrees Celsius heat, Warner soaked up another standing ovation after hitting four off Lungi Ngidi to reach his second hundred, slumping to his knees and pumping his arms in the air with a roar.
Warner got to his feet to leap in the air again, but failed to stick the landing and was left propping himself up with his bat on shaky legs.
Facing South Africa for the first Test series since ‘Sandpaper-gate’, Warner managed only three runs in the seriesopener, raising questions about his future in Test whites.
Not unlike his career, it was a sparkling innings of endurance and full-blooded shots despite struggling with cramps.