Australia’s opening batsman David Warner was in full flow during the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test in the jam-packed Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Tuesday (December 26). The 31-year-old slammed 103 off 151 balls, including 13 fours and a six as Australia made 244-3 at Stumps on Day 1.
In the first session Australia raced to 102-0, out of which 83 of them have come from David Warner’s bat. The southpaw completed his 21st Test ton off just 130 deliveries and thereby joined some of the game’s finest opener in the list of fewest innings to amass 21 centuries. Warner stands only behind the legendary Indian opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar and is tied with his countryman Matthew Hayden at the second spot on this eminent list.
Fewest innings to 21 Test tons as an opening batsman:
Sunil Gavaskar – 97
Matthew Hayden/ David Warner – 126
Virender Sehwag – 130
Graeme Smith/ Alastair Cook – 139
Geoffrey Boycott – 182
With this quick-fire knock, Warner also became the joint fourth fastest Australian batsman (in terms of innings) to cross the 6,000-run barrier in Test cricket. The New South Wales born opener has taken 129 innings to reach this feat.
Fewest innings to 6000 runs for Australia:
Don Bradman – 68
Ricky Ponting – 125
Matthew Hayden – 126
Greg Chappell/ David Warner – 129
Plenty of drama to get there, but what a moment for David Warner! #MagellanMilestones pic.twitter.com/pQuRiFFtgA
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 26, 2017