David Warner Hits Century Before Lunch on First Day

Australia’s dashing left handed opener David Warner registered another milestone against his name by smashing a century off 78 balls before lunch on the First Day of the Third Test. He hammered 17 boundaries in his innings. He reached the milestone with only four minutes from the break. In doing so, he has become only the fifth batsman in the World and fourth Australian to achieve this feat and has joined the astonishing list of Victor Trumper, Sir Don Bradman, Charles Macartney and Pakistan’s Majid Khan. Before Warner, Majid Khan was the last batsman to score a century before lunch on first day which was way back in 1976.

However, post the lunch break, Wahab Riaz got Warner to edge to the keeper and departed for 113. Warner created plenty of records during his course of knock. Warner’s 4 hundreds are in the list of fastest 100s in Tests. His fastest one came against India off 69 balls in Perth in 2012, this century against Pakistan was his 2nd fastest and two others came against West Indies last year and South Africa off 93 balls in Adelaide in 2012.

David Warner’s 78 Ball 100 is also the fourth fastest century by an Australian in tests. Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist holds the record for fastest 100 which he made in just 57 balls against England in the Ashes Series of 2006-07.

David Warner has started his New Year with a bang. Well, he has a habit to do so. This is his 3rd Consecutive century in New Year Tests. Warner had made 101 against India in 2015 and 122 not out against West Indies last year.

Warner’s 100 off 78 Balls is the fastest century in Sydney. He is the fourth player after Wally Hammond (4 100s), David Boon and VVS Laxman (3 Each) to score consecutive 100s in Sydney. Warner now has three hundreds each in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Sydney. In the last test against Pakistan he had achieved an unique feat of scoring century in every major Australian test venues.

With this rich vein of form and reaching milestones one after the other, the dashing batsman who had his worst test seasonin 2016 will be a force to reckon with this year. A great start this year will boost him to perform exceedingly well against India in the Test Series which starts next month.