Warner falls short of record-breaking ton
Dec 30, 2017 - 1:31 AM David Warner has fallen 14 runs short of a record-breaking Test century, throwing his wicket away on day five of the MCG Ashes dead rubber.Warner produced his slowest Test half-century, taking 161 deliveries to reach 50 on a slow pitch in Melbourne.
Australia's vice-captain reined in his natural aggression and looked set to become the first batsman to score hundreds in both innings of a Test on four occasions.
That was until he reached 86 and lashed at a delivery from part-time offspinner Joe Root that landed in the rough, with James Vince gleefully accepting the skied edge.
Simon Katich suggested Warner's ego played a factor in ending his five-hour vigil, with the opener attacking the first ball he faced from Root.
"He's obviously got a long-running battle with Joe Root stemming back from Birmingham days and I think he wanted to have a piece of the action," Katich said while commentating on ABC.
Sitting next to him, Chris Rogers noted there was no need for such a loose stroke given the hosts were trying to salvage a draw.
"I just said it was the most mature innings I've seen him play then out of the blue he's just played an uncharacteristic hack," Rogers said.
"Wasn't really anywhere near the ball, was he?"
Renowned for his powerful strokeplay and the speed at which he scores, Warner had never batted for so long in a Test innings with such caution.
Teammates are more used to Warner batting like he did at the start of 2017, when he became the fifth batsman to score a century before lunch on the first day of a Test while plundering Pakistan's attack at the SCG.
"He's one of the best batsmen in the world and it was great to see the way he batted for the team," allrounder Mitch Marsh said after day four at the MCG.
Warner clobbered twin tons against South Africa in Cape Town (2014), India at Adelaide Oval (2014) and New Zealand at the Gabba (2015).
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and India icon Sunil Gavaskar share that world record with Warner, having also posted twin centuries in three Tests.
Australia coach Darren Lehmann conceded on day three of the dead rubber that victory was all but impossible following Alastair Cook's record-breaking knock of 244 not out.
WARNER'S SLOWEST TEST HALF-CENTURIES (BALLS):
*161 v Eng, MCG, 2017 *133 v WI, Roseau, 2012 *105 v Ind, Mohali, 2013 *101 v SL, Hobart, 2012.
Source: AAP
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