David, the Goliath!
Melbourne, December 26
David Warner posted a century after a no-ball reprieve and skipper Steve Smith was on track for the fourth straight Boxing Day ton as Australia made a solid start to the fourth Ashes Test against England today.
Warner received a massive let-off on 99 to claim his 21st Test hundred as Australia, chasing a series whitewash, took full advantage of winning the toss on an unresponsive Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) drop-in pitch.
The aggressive opener, who had been marooned in the 90s for over 40 minutes, was poised on 99 to bring up his century as he faced the last ball of debutant Tom Curran’s fifth over. But instead Warner top-edged a catch to mid-on and walked off to the jubilation of the England team, only for replays to detect a no-ball. On the next ball, Warner raised his hundred off 130 balls with a flick off his hip and celebrated by leaping into the air and ripping off his helmet to salute the 88,172 Boxing Day crowd at the MCG.
But Warner didn’t stay at the crease for much longer after his massive let-off, as he was caught behind off James Anderson for 103. Smith, who hasn’t been dismissed in a Melbourne Test match since 2014 Boxing Day, was batting at the close of play on 65, with Shaun Marsh on 31 and Australia 244/3.
The Australians freewheeled to lunch at 102 without loss with Warner leading the charge but England’s bowlers toiled away under the hot sun to restrict the home side in the remaining two sessions.
In the process of raising his century, Warner brought up 6,000 runs in his 70th Test, making him the joint fourth-fastest Australian alongside Greg Chappell to do so behind Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.
Stuart Broad got his first wicket since the second Adelaide Test to end a barren run of 414 balls when he had Usman Khawaja snapped up by Jonny Bairstow for 17, and incoming Shaun Marsh survived a leg before wicket review off the next ball. — AFP
Maiden Test wicket missed because of a no-ball
Lasith Malinga in 2004
Michael Beer in 2011
Ben Stokes in 2013
Mark Wood in 2015
Tom Curran in 2017
Fewest innings to 21 Test hundreds as an opener
97 S Gavaskar
126 M Hayden/D Warner
130 V Sehwag
139 G Smith/A Cook
182 G Boycott
SCOREBOARD
Australia Ist innings
C Bancroft lbw b Woakes 26
D Warner c Bairstow b Anderson 103
U Khawaja c Bairstow b Broad 17
S Smith not out 65
S Marsh not out 31
Extras: (LB-1 NB-1) 2
Total: (3 wickets; 89 overs) 244
FOW: 1-122, 2-135, 3-160
Bowling
James Anderson 21-8-43-1
Stuart Broad 19-6-41-1
Chris Woakes 19- 4-60-1
Moeen Ali 6-0-35-0
Tom Curran 17-5-44-0
Dawid Malan 7-1-20-0
