Warner hits ton

David Warner has scored a century in his return test in Australia, scoring his first hundred in almost two years yesterday.

After he went to tea on 99no, Warner brought up his first hundred since Boxing Day 2017 when he worked Pakistan spinner Yasir Shah behind square on the legside for a single at the Gabba.

The 180-ball century is Warner’s 22nd in Test cricket, taking him to 10th on the list for Australians in Test cricket.

However earlier a wicket went begging, and a difficult lesson learned during a tough initiation for 16-year-old Naseem Shah as Australian openers Warner and Joe Burns punished an inexperienced Pakistan pace attack on day two.

Naseem thought he had Warner out for 56, nicking behind, to claim his first test wicket, but a review by the TV umpire showed the young fast bowler had overstepped the crease and that gave the veteran Australian opener a reprieve.

Naseem finished his second session as a test bowler with figures of 0-47 from 12 overs.

He had Burns hopping around with some fast, short balls and maintained his pace above 140 kph (87 mph) but didn’t get the breakthrough he desperately seeks.

Warner has now scored more runs in an innings than he did in the entire Ashes series, when he tallied only 95 in five tests. Burns was unbeaten on 88 at the interval as Australia reached 195 without loss in replay to Pakistan’s 240 on the first day.

The stand more than doubles the runs for Australia from their opening stands in the five-test Ashes series, where 18 had been the best for the first wicket.

In that series, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft partnered Warner at the top, as all three struggled against the English quicks and seaming ball.

AAP