NEW DELHI: In a dazzling display of skill and resilience, veteran Australian opening batter David Warner emphatically silenced his critics by playing a swashbuckling knock of 164 runs off just 211 balls on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth on Thursday.
The 37-year-old reached the triple-figure mark in a mere 125 balls, showcasing his aggressive yet efficient batting style.During this remarkable innings, Warner struck an impressive 16 boundaries and four maximums, securing his 26th career century and notably, his first since January 2020.

In the process of this incredible performance, Warner climbed the ranks in Australia‘s all-time Test run-getters list, surpassing cricketing stalwarts Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke. Furthermore, his big hundred propelled him beyond renowned swashbucklers Sir Viv Richards and Virender Sehwag in the overall list.

As of now, Warner stands proudly as the fifth-highest Test run-scorer for Australia, accumulating an impressive tally of 8651 runs. In this elite group, he follows in the footsteps of cricketing legends Steve Smith, Steve Waugh, Allan Border, and Ricky Ponting.

Warner justified captain Pat Cummins‘ decision to bat first on the Perth surface by delivering a masterful performance. Demonstrating clear intent, Warner swiftly reached his fifty in just 41 balls, forging a brisk century stand with Usman Khawaja.
While his teammates struggled to capitalise on good starts, Warner continued his aggressive approach, ultimately notching up his 26th Test century. His celebration, marked by a trademark leap, followed this significant milestone. Despite reaching his hundred, the 37-year-old received a couple of lifelines – a missed catching opportunity by Khurram Shahzad and a failed stumping attempt by Sarfaraz Ahmed. Warner took full advantage of these reprieves, pushing on to reach 150.

However, the visitors eventually found success against Warner by employing the short-ball tactic, resulting in the Australian opener getting caught in the deep just a few overs before the end of the day’s play.
Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey then safely navigated the remaining overs without further setbacks, guiding Australia to a commanding position with 346 runs on the board and five wickets down.

Despite Warner’s outstanding performance, his place in the Test side became a topic of public debate following a provocative column from former pace bowler Mitchell Johnson.
Johnson questioned the hero’s send-off for Warner, raising concerns about his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal as he approaches his final Australian Test summer.
(With IANS inputs)