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Tea Australia 210 for 2 (Warner 111*, Smith 21*) vs Pakistan
David Warner overcame an improved Pakistan attack in the second session on day one to reach his 26th Test century and lead Australia into a strong position in the series-opener at Optus Stadium.
Kick-starting his Test cricket swansong in style, Warner reached his ton with an upper cut to the boundary to trigger his trademark leaping celebration. He had come into the match on the back of a recent public spat with former team-mate and adopted local Mitchell Johnson, who is at the ground.
Warner’s long-held dominance over Pakistan continued after notching his sixth century against them and he sports an average of over 90.
Shortly after reaching his century, Warner received a life when Khurram Shahzad dropped a chance over his head at mid-on after chipping spinner Salman Ali Agha. A big partnership is looming between Warner and Steven Smith, who looked in superb touch before tea.
Warner, who plans to retire after the series, has vindicated Pat Cummins’ decision to bat first on a hard surface which has provided some assistance to the quicks. He smashed 72 runs in a dominant first session alongside Usman Khawaja as they produced Australia’s first century opening partnership in home Tests in 26 innings.
But Warner was pegged back after lunch as he confronted much better bowling from spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and debutant quick Shahzad.
A disciplined Shahzad was particularly impressive and bowled a consistent back-of-a-length line. He made the ball jag around and occasionally rear to underline the trickiness of the pitch despite the lopsided scoreboard.
Afridi, who bowled nine overs before lunch, was rewarded with the breakthrough of Khawaja on 41 after late swing from a full delivery produced a faint nick. He celebrated with his arms aloft and fancied incoming batter Marnus Labuschagne, who Afridi had dismissed five times in Test cricket.
But Afridi, who bowled consistently around the mid-130kph mark, was weary after bowling 13 of Pakistan’s first 32 overs and he briefly went off the ground to raise alarm before returning shortly afterwards.
The situation appeared tailor made for Labuschagne, who has a liking for Optus Stadium with 501 runs at an average of 167 from four previous innings. But seamer Faheem Ashraf, particularly wayward in the first session, continued Pakistan’s fightback by hitting the knee roll of Labuschagne who unsuccessfully reviewed the decision.
The improved bowling was a much-needed tonic for Pakistan, who were facing the heat for their selection gambles after a wicketless opening session. The hierarchy made the bold call to not select a specialist spinner and also opted for debutant quicks Aamer Jamal and Shahzad ahead of the more experienced Hasan Ali.
Warner and Khawaja rattled Pakistan’s inexperienced attack by scoring 14 runs in the equal second most runs in an opening over in Test cricket since 2002. They scored freely but also had to survive an opening six-over burst from Afridi on a surface livelier than during last year’s dreary corresponding Test between Australia and West Indies.
But Warner soon took advantage of loose deliveries as he reached his half-century in 41 balls. He punctuated his commanding session with an extraordinary scoop shot for six before settling into a more watchful mode after lunch.
Khawaja played second fiddle and was dropped on 21 by Abdullah Shafique running back from the slips. He came into the match under the spotlight after not being allowed to wear shoes which expressed humanitarian views, but wore a black armband.
A full-strength Australia went in as expected with allrounder Mitchell Marsh retaining his spot over Western Australia team-mate Cameron Green.
The crowd has steadily built for the fourth Test match played at Optus Stadium with an amended target of 15,000 fans set to be reached by day’s end.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
