With every passing match and innings, David Warner keeps making the current Test series more and more memorable for himself and his team.
After his twin centuries in Adelaide, the Aussie opening batsman notched up another ton on the first day of the Sydney Test – his 12th overall and first at his home ground, SCG.
Talking about the special moment, Warner said, “It’s very special. I spoke to the guys the other day that I haven’t scored a hundred at home and that I cannot score runs here,” he said.
“It’s great to finally get there. I have done my job for the team by scoring the runs but the thing I am particularly proud of is putting up a double hundred partnership with Bucky (Chris Rogers). That was highlight for me.”
Rogers had hinted a couple of days ago that the ongoing Test series will be his last at home. When asked if he thought this would be Rogers’ last Test ever, Warner said he would like his 37-year-old opening partner to finish his Test career with an Ashes win in England.
“Bucky likes to go about things the way he wants to. He would know when his time is up,” Warner said. “He will finish when he wants to. He has more than 70 first-class centuries and over 20000 runs.
“In the last 18 months he’s batted the best I have seen him bat. We keep pushing each other to excellence. He feels this is his last home series. I hope he is there for the Ashes and we can win it. If he feels its time, he will call it,” he said.
While Warner got to his century at the SCG, Rogers missed his by five runs. Warner hoped the two unbeaten Aussie batsmen, Steve Smith (82*) and Shane Watson (61*) could get to their three-digit scores on the second day.
He especially wished Watson could score what would be his fifth Test century after a long time. “He’s trained the house down in the last couple of days,” he said of Watson. “The amount of effort he puts in training is unbelievable. He is one of the hardest trainers I have seen. I hope both can pile runs tomorrow and put us in a further great position.”
Australia scored 348 runs on the day losing only two wickets and didn’t seem to be in any kind of trouble against the Indian bowlers. Warner said of India’s bowling, “Their heads were down”.
“It was a fantastic toss to win. There was no swing and sideways movement and so it was challenging for their bowlers,” Warner said. “I think their heads were down. They didn’t get their line and length right. Virat will know how frustrating it is when your bowlers bowl on both sides of wicket,” he said.
The Aussie opener, however, credited the visitors for being worthy competitors right through the series. “It’s about playing smart cricket – bowling and batting in the right way. Both teams have been playing fantastic. It’s been a tight series and an even contest, even though we are 2-0 up,” he said.
