WARNER IS BACK IN THE SWING
DAVID Warner rediscovered his Test form in devastating fashion yesterday, as Australia ground Pakistan into the Gabba turf. Warner’s stunning unbeaten 151 left the home side on course for a crushing first Test win as they ended the day with a lead of 72 and nine wickets still in hand.
DAVID Warner’s Ashes misery became a distant memory yesterday as he sent a message to the cricket world that he is still one of the game’s most feared batsmen.
The opener started the Test losing his baggy green in the dressing room, although that was nothing compared to the alarm bells that rang out as he struggled against Stuart Broad in England earlier this year.
But at first opportunity back at home after his ball-tampering ban, Warner proved with a trademark bulldozing century at the Gabba that he has lost none of the bristling confidence that has made him such an indestructible force.
Warner now has 22 Test centuries, including four at the Gabba. He also has 40 hundreds for Australia across all formats, bringing him equal with Matthew Hayden as second on the all-time list for most international tons behind the great Ricky Ponting (70).
Warner and Joe Burns piled on an eye-watering 222-run opening stand in their Test reunion, with the fact Burns fell three runs short of his own comeback hundred the only sour point on a day of dominance for Australia, where they are 1-312 and 72 runs in front.
Marnus Labuschagne will resume on 55 with a golden shot at a maiden Test hundred. This time last year Warner was the solitary man of Australian cricket, banished to the outskirts of the game.
Yesterday he finished unbeaten on 151, with his stature in the game well and truly restored. “As you know, there was a bit of pressure on Davey coming into this Test match after the Ashes,” coach Justin Langer told Channel 7.
“We know how good a player he is. We talk about that. He works so hard. His running between wickets is unbelievable.
“I haven’t seen Davey hit as many balls in the past three days as I have in the last eight or nine months he’s been back. Brilliant preparation. Joe Burns the same.”
Burns and Warner are now the most productive opening pair in the history of Test cricket at the Gabba, surpassing Hayden and Langer’s mark of 563 runs (from eight innings) in just three innings.
Warner was handed a life on 56 when he edged behind off Naseem Shah only to be recalled due to a no-ball.
He did not need much more good fortune after powering to his first 150 score in more than four years, but there was more. Imran Khan hit Warner’s offstump only for the bails to hold firm.
Lady luck wasn’t shining on Burns when he fell into the trap of trying to sweep Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah, although 97 runs more than justified his recall after being left out of the Ashes.
Langer has hailed the chemistry between Burns and Warner as a key in the Queenslander’s return and Ponting said the bond was there for all to see.
“That’s what the partnership’s all about, isn’t it? And that’s the sort of bloke Davey is as well. He’s a winner,” Ponting said.
“You see how competitive he is and yes he plays with his heart on his sleeve and, yes, sometimes his emotions have got the better of him.”
Langer sees similarities in Burns and Warner to himself and Hayden. “They get along well. They’re good mates, and I know the importance of that chemistry,” Langer said.