David Warner Smashes Tenth Test Ton Down Under to Continue Love Affair With Australian Soil
David Warner, who smashed 145 off 163 vs India on day one of Adelaide Test, said that the knock was his career's best.
Australia's explosive opener David Warner on Tuesday, struck his tenth Test hundred on his way to 145 off 163 balls against India. It was an innings which helped the hosts to 354 for six at stumps on day one at the Adelaide Oval. (Match report | Highlights | Scorecard)
Warner, who dedicated his stirring century to late Phillip Hughes, registered his sixth Test century in Australia - second at Adelaide, the first being 119 vs South Africa in November 2012.
The left-handed opener has been in good form this year. He has amassed 959 runs at an average of 73.76 in seven Tests - the most by an Australian batsman in 2014. The said tally is also the highest by an opening batsman in Tests in 2014. The above tally is his best in a calendar year, obliterating the 909 runs at an average of 39.52 in twelve Tests in 2013. Warner and Pakistan's Younis Khan have recorded five hundreds each this year. (Warner hails his knock as his best ever)
The following are more statistical highlights from the day's play
# Warner has become the fifth Australian opener to manage an average of fifty-plus in Tests (minimum 2000 runs) - 2823 runs (ave.50.41) in 23 Tests, joining Bobby Simpson (55.51), Bill Woodfull (50.90), Matthew Hayden (50.73) and Simon Katich (50.48). (Also read: Michael Clarke retires with back trouble on Day 1)
# In six consecutive Tests, Warner has recorded fifty-plus innings - 12 & 115 vs South Africa at Centurion in February 2014, 70 & 66 at Port Elizabeth in February, 135 & 145 at Cape Town in March, followed by 133 & 29 vs Pakistan at Dubai in October, 19 & 58 at Abu Dhabi in October/November and 145 vs India at Adelaide on Tuesday. (Mark Taylor worried for Clarke)
# Warner's aforesaid innings is his second Test hundred vs India - the first being a career-best 180 off 159 balls at Perth in January 2012. Warner's eight innings of fifty or more are the highest by an opener in Tests this year. In his last ten innings, he has registered five hundreds and three fifties. (Warner Says 63 to Stay Special Score)
# Warner is the seventh Australian opener to post a hundred vs India in Tests at Adelaide. His innings is the highest by an Australian opener vs India at this venue, surpassing Graeme Wood's 125 in January 1981.
# Australia skipper Clarke and Warner have shared a partnership of 118 - Australia's fifth century stand for the third wicket vs India at Adelaide - the highest being 172 between Bobby Simpson and Bob Cowper in December 1967.
# Clarke's seventh fifty vs India is his 28th in Tests.
# Clarke (1974 at an average of 54.83 in 22 Tests) is all set to complete 2,000 runs vs India in Tests.
# Clarke has been retired hurt for the second time in Tests - the first instance being (57 not out) vs Sri Lanka at Hobart in December 2012.
# Clarke (103.00 - 1339 runs in ten Tests) is one of the three batsmen to have averaged 100-plus in Tests at Adelaide - the first two being Lindsay Hassett (128.25) and Don Bradman (107.77). (minimum qualification: 500 runs).
# Playing in his first Test innings at home, Mitchell Marsh scored 41. He is averaging 41.00 in Tests - his tally being 205 in five innings, including a fifty - 87 vs Pakistan at Abu Dhabi this year.
# Steven Smith's ninth fifty in Tests is his second vs India - his fifties vs India being 92 at Mohali in March 2013 and 72 not out at Adelaide in December 2014.
# Since posting 75 vs England at Sydney in January this year, Brad Haddin is without a fifty in eleven innings - the highest being 28 vs England at Sydney.
# Haddin's second duck vs India is his eighth in Tests. For the first time in a calendar year, he has registered three ducks.
# Karn Sharma made his Test debut on Tuesday. After 24 years, an Indian spinner has made his Test debut outside the subcontinent. Anil Kumble had made his debut vs England at Old Trafford, Manchester in August 1990.
# Wriddhiman Saha is playing in his third Test. He had last played vs Australia at Adelaide in January 2012.
(With inputs from Rajesh Kumar)