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Debutant gifts Warner ton with horror blunder on 99

Yahoo Sport Australia

Tom Curran thought he had the prized scalp of David Warner on 99 for his first Test wicket, only for replays to reveal an embarrassing blunder.

Warner broke through for his first century of the Ashes series on day one of the Boxing Day Test, helping Australia to a commanding start at the MCG.

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However it looked as though he'd butchered his century one run short.

Warner brought up his 21st Test century. Image: Getty
Warner brought up his 21st Test century. Image: Getty

The Aussie opener played his dreaded half-pull-half-clip shot that has seen him dismissed so many times, popping up an easy catch for Stuart Broad at mid-on.

However on-field umpires wanted to check Curran's front foot, with replays revealing the debutant had bowled a no-ball.

Warner raised his hundred off the very next ball with a flick off his hip, celebrating by ripping off his helmet to salute the huge crowd, as Curran was left to consider what could have been.

Curran was gutted. Image: Getty
Curran was gutted. Image: Getty

Luckily for England the let-off only cost four runs, with Jimmy Anderson dismissing Warner for 103 not long after.

Controversial all-rounder Ben Stokes suffered a similar ignominy in the 2013/12 Ashes series, seeing his maiden Test wicket erased by a no-ball as well.

The brilliant innings puts an end to a frustrating run for Warner, who has regularly made starts this summer without going on to reach three figures.

He has taken an uncharacteristically long time to warm into the series. He has made centuries in the first or second Test of the home summer in five of the past six years.

Warner also passed 6000 Test runs with the innings - the fourth fastest Australian to do so, having achieved the feat in his 129th innings.

The MCG hasn't been a happy hunting ground for Warner in the past. The 31-year-old made just one century in 11 previous Test innings with an average of 36.20.

FASTEST AUSTRALIANS TO 6000 TEST RUNS

* Don Bradman - 68 innings

* Ricky Ponting - 125

* Matthew Hayden - 126

* David Warner - 129

* Greg Chappell - 129

with AAP