David Warner takes down Michael Clarke and Matthew Hayden in epic Aussie cricket feat

David Warner has become the fifth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket history for Australia, overtaking Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke in a masterful knock on Thursday. The under-fire opener silenced his critics in emphatic fashion as he made 164 on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan.

After copping an extraordinary spray from former teammate Mitchell Johnson - who said he doesn't even deserve to be in the Test team let alone get a farewell at the SCG this summer - Warner has all-but guaranteed that he will go out on his terms. His brilliant innings came off 211 balls and helped Australia reach 5-346 at stumps on day one in Perth.

NEW STAND: Usman Khawaja's eye-opening move after ICC imposes ban

'NOT ANYMORE': Kerry O'Keeffe complaint smacked down before Test

The 164 runs he scored on Thursday saw Warner leap-frog Hayden and Clarke on the all-time run-scorers' list for Australia and move into fifth place. Warner now has 8651 runs in his Test career, moving him above Hayden (8625) and Clarke (8643).

There are only four Australians who have more runs at Test level than Warner - teammate Steve Smith (9351), Steve Waugh (10,927), Allan Border (11,174) and Ricky Ponting (13,378). Warner is also now 24th on the all-time list for players of all countries, with his runs coming at an average of 45.25.

Not bad for a guy who supposedly doesn't deserve to be there. To be fair, the 37-year-old has endured a difficult run of form over the last two years outside of a double century at the MCG last summer.

His form has improved in 2023 after a horror year before that. Warner has averaged 46.25 across 20 one-day internationals this year, and his Test average in 2023 is now up to 31.10.

David Warner's emphatic century silences critics

Speaking to reporters on Thursday evening, the veteran opener admitted the saga surrounding his aborted bid to have his leadership ban lifted affected his form in 2022. "We had a lot of stuff with CA last year and the captaincy stuff and I was going through a pretty hard time off the field from all that and dealing with it," he revealed.

"This year, we've had a great successful 12 months as a team. I think where I am in my part of my career, it's been great. I've not really had much to worry about. People make comments but you get on with it and you know you've got to go out there and score runs, and today I did that."

After bringing up his century, Warner put his finger to his lips in a 'shushing' gesture aimed at the media boxes. Johnson is working in commentary for Triple M during the Test.

"If people are out to get you or make a headline from your name, then so be it," Warner said. "I can't worry about that. I've got to worry about what I've got to do for the team - keep scoring runs and putting the team in a great position. I don't feel any extra pressure, I don't feel any other points I have to prove."

Warner has now all-but guaranteed that he will get the SCG farewell that he desires. The 37-year-old previously flagged that he'd love to retire from red-ball cricket after the Sydney Test this summer - the third and final game against Pakistan.

But he's not getting ahead of himself. "You've still got to score runs," he said. "It's up to the selectors. If they want to keep continuing to pick me, I ain't leaving."

Most Test runs for Australia as of December 14:

1. Ricky Ponting - 13,378

2. Allan Border - 11,174

3. Steve Waugh - 10,927

4. Steve Smith - 9351 (still playing)

5. David Warner - 8651 (still playing)

6. Michael Clarke - 8643

7. Matthew Hayden - 8625

8. Mark Waugh - 8029

9. Justin Langer - 7696

10. Mark Taylor - 7525

with AAP

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.