David Warner has once again proven his critics wrong by scoring his 26th Test century against Pakistan's struggling bowlers, allowing Australia to dominate the series opener in Perth.
Playing at Perth Stadium on Thursday, Warner showcased his class with a brilliant score of 164, steering the hosts to 5-346 at stumps and ensuring a memorable conclusion to his Test career with a swan song at the SCG.
In front of 15,671 fans, the 37-year-old capitalized on Pakistan's erratic bowling, smashing 16 boundaries and four sixes in an impressive innings. He formed a substantial 126-run opening partnership with Usman Khawaja and later contributed to fifty-run stands with Steve Smith and Travis Head in the afternoon session.
Reflecting on the day's performance, Warner stated in the post-match press conference, "I think where we finished was probably around par, minus one wicket. We had a few starts, a lot of the other guys would have liked to go on, but we're in a good position on that wicket."
Warner's achievement places him ahead of modern greats Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke, making him Australia's fifth-highest run-scorer in Test history.
On the other hand, Pakistan faced a challenging first day in the Test series, marked by dropped catches, wayward bowling, front-foot no-balls, misfields, and a missed stumping opportunity. Despite Shaheen Shah Afridi's threatening spells, especially in the morning session, Pakistan's bowling attack struggled to pose a significant threat on the bouncy Perth pitch.
A trio of wickets in the evening session brought some relief for Pakistan, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and wicketkeeper Alex Carey remaining unbeaten overnight.
Warner's rapid half-century, featuring an array of flamboyant shots, set the tone for Australia's dominant day. Khawaja also survived a scare when a top-edged pull shot off debutant Aamer Jamal went just out of reach of a fielder, allowing him an extra life on 21.
Reflecting on a memorable shot that saw him on his backside, Warner said, "I actually thought it was shorter than what it was until I saw the replay. The boys were laughing. Uzzie came up to me and said, 'That was an unbelievable shot.' And I said, 'What, it was a short ball?' He's like, 'That wasn't short, that could have been a cover drive.' You've got to be brave."
In the final moments before lunch, Afridi's LBW appeal against Warner was unsuccessful, adding another chapter to Pakistan's challenging day.
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