Star opener David Warner hit a counter-attacking 164 as Australia dominated day one of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth, reaching 346 for 5 at the end of play on Day 1. Warner, who plans to retire from Test cricket after the third and final match of the series in Sydney, put on a 126-run opening stand with Usman Khawaja (41) to get the hosts off to a great start after winning the toss.
Warner brought up a breezy 125-ball hundred, his 26th in Tests, with a lovely upper cut for four in the 43rd over, sparking his typical celebration leap and blown kiss towards the media box.
“It’s my job to come out here and score runs, that was from the get-go to put pressure on the Pakistani bowlers,” Warner, who had averaged only 32 in tests since the start of 2020, told Fox Cricket. “There’s going to be criticism but you’ve got to take that. There’s no better way to silence them (than) by putting runs on the board.”
Australia got off to a flying start, with Pakistan vice-captain and pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi leaking 14 runs in the opening over. Khawaja, who wore a black armband, was the first to fall after lunch, caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed off Afridi (1 for 75).
Australia vs Pakistan, 1st Test Day 1: Highlights
Marnus Labuschagne (16) was dismissed soon after, trapped lbw by medium-pacer Faheem Ashraf (1 for 65), forcing Warner to scale down his attacking attitude, capped by an incredible lap shot over fine leg for six. Warner rode his luck to evade a missed catch and a mis-stump to spinner Agha Salman, hitting 16 boundaries and four sixes before miscuing rookie fast Aamer Jamal (2 for 63) to backward square in the 75th over.
During the 211-ball stay, Warner surpassed greats Matthew Hayden (8,625) and Michael Clarke (8,643) to become Australia’s fifth-highest Test run scorer with 8651. Pakistan will be encouraged by their disciplined post-lunch bowling performance and the likelihood of limiting Australia to less than 400 on day two when Mitchell Marsh (15 not out) and Alex Carey (14 not out) begin the innings.