Warner, Smith headline Australian dominance

David Warner posted a quick century and Steven Smith got to 65 not out as Australia scored 244 for 3 on the first day of the Boxing Day Test against England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday (December 26).

Warner got a big reprieve when on 99 to record his 21st Test century as Australia held all the aces in its bid to complete a 5-0 series sweep over England. The opening batsman was stuck in the 90s for over half an hour when Tom Curran, the debutant, got him to top edge a delivery to mid-on. Warner walked off but replays confirmed that Curran had over-stepped.

Warner strutted back in and clipped the very next delivery off his hips to get to the milestone and celebrated in typical fashion by ripping off his helmet and leaping in the air, much to the delight of the holiday crowd of 88,172 people.

His century came off 130 balls but Warner fell soon after, caught behind off James Anderson for 103 off 151 balls with 13 fours and a six. Along the way, he also crossed 6000 career runs in Tests, joining Greg Chappell as the fourth fastest Australian to do so behind Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden.

England had earlier sent back Cameron Bancroft, a largely passive partner to Warner in a 122-run opening-wicket stand where he scored 26 in 95 balls. Chris Woakes sent back Bancroft when he had the opener lbw, and England had their third and last spot of success for the day when Stuart Broad ended a wicketless run to have Usman Khawaja caught behind for 17.

Shaun Marsh survived an lbw review off the very next Broad delivery, but after that he and Smith had little trouble negotiating the English bowlers.

Smith, who had 491 runs at an average of 163.66 from five innings in the series before this game, struck six fours during his 131-ball stay at the crease by close of play, while Marsh had hit four boundaries in getting to 31 from 93 balls as England tightened the rate of scoring. The two have so far added 84 runs.