David Warner's emphatic response to Test cricket backlash amid 'outrageous' scenes

David Warner has provided an emphatic response to critics after a stunning century for Australia on day one of the first Test against Pakistan. The opener went into his final Test series under an intense spotlight after criticism from the likes of Mitchell Johnson that he was undeserving of his place at the top of the order for Australia.

The 37-year-old - who said he hopes to farewell Test cricket in the third match against Pakistan at the SCG in January - put on an unbeaten stand of 117 with fellow opener Usman Khawaja (37) in a dominant first session for the Aussies after captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. Warner's half century came off just 41 balls but he had to be more patient after lunch, before notching his 26th Test century off 125 balls.

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Khawaja also came into the match under scrutiny after being banned from wearing shoes that had slogans "all lives are equal" and "freedom is a human right" written on them. While Khawaja was patient and measured in his approach - despite being dropped by Abdullah Shafique after skying a ball towards the boundary - Warner was the opposite.

The flashy left-hander also rode his luck after edging a ball that just carried over the slips. Warner then survived an LBW shout off Shaheen Shah Afridi, with replays showing the ball bouncing over the top of his stumps.

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However, the veteran showed his aggression and love of batting in Australia after racing away to his half century off just 41 balls. Warner's disdain towards Pakistan's inexperienced bowling attack was typified by an outrageous shot late in the opening session, when he fashioned a six from nowhere, once again off the bowling off the increasingly frustrated Afridi.

Warner took on a ball pitched at a good length outside his off-stump and sweep-slogged it for six over the boundary at fine leg, before ending up lying on his back. The audacious and unorthodox ramp shot helped Warner get to the lunch break on 72 runs (off 67 balls), sending the cricket world into meltdown in the process.

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Australia's superb opening partnership was finally broken after the lunch break when Khawaja was dismissed for 41 after a sharp catch from Sarfaraz Ahmed, off the bowling of Afridi. The wicket saw Warner's run-rate slow down a little bit as he and Marnus Labuschagne went about building on Australia's solid start. Labuschagne moved onto 16 before Faheem Ashraf trapped the 29-year-old LBW.

That brought. Steve Smith to the crease and he raced into double figures before Warner notched his latest milestone. Warner came into the Pakistan Test series facing questions about his place in the Test side after a lean couple of years with the bat. The 37-year-old's form in Australia - where he averages around 60 with the bat - no doubt explains why selectors were happy to show their faith in the opener.

His display on day one against Pakistan will go some way to answering the critics, such as Johnson, who've argued that he doesn't deserve a heroes send-off at the SCG, in what will almost certainly be his final Test for Australia. Speaking before play on day one in Perth, Warner denied suggestions he was dictating his own terms about his retirement, and said his dream SCG farewell was also dependent on him being selected in the side.

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“For me, leading into the World Test championship it was about how many Tests I was going to play," he said. "Look back, if people read my comments, my ideal scenario would be to finish in Australia. But you’ve still got to score runs, you’ve still got to perform. Lord’s was going to be my last Test if I wasn’t scoring runs in England.

“But we managed to keep winning and keep going well, so the selectors kept the faith in me and in the team. Moving forward from there, it’s one of those things where you’ve got to perform. I want to keep the media focused about the team and the Ashes and the World Test Championship.

“I was sick of it all being about me. It’s not about me at all, it’s about the team. If we’re winning and we’re succeeding and I’m doing my job, so be it.” Warner said despite his initial comments around his retirement being taken the wrong way, he learnt a long time ago not to let the criticism affect him.

with agencies

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