David Warner becomes only the fifth batsman to score a Test century before lunch

01/03/2017

Australian David Warner became only the fifth batsman in Test history to score a century before lunch, the pugnacious left-hander achieving the rare feat on the opening day of the third Test against Pakistan in Sydney on Tuesday (Jan 2). A three of a Wahab Riaz delivery took him to three figures.

Warner made his intent clear early on as he scored his first runs off a boundary of the third ball of the Test, and went on to reach his half century in just 42 balls. It took him just 36 more deliveries to double his score even as the umpires decided to take lunch three overs early. Warner scored most of his runs in boundaries – his hundred having 17 of them.

Warner, who has played for the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, used his knowledge of the pitch to his advantage as he became the first batsman in almost 40 years to achieve the feat. However, he departed soon after lunch for 113, falling to Riaz.

Warner joins fellow Australians Victor Trumper (1902), Charles Macartney (1926) and the legendary Don Bradman (1930) on the list. However, it was the first time that the feat was achieved on Australian soil – the other three Australians achieved it in England. Pakistan’s Majid Khan (1977) was the last player to achieve the feat before Warner.

The Sydney hundred was also the fourth time that the Aussie has scored a Test century at a strike rate of over a 100.

CENTURY! Incredible. @davidwarner31 becomes the first player EVER to score a ton before lunch on day one of a Test in Australia! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/JgDVb3jeO0
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) January 3, 2017