Ashes 2017-18: David Warner Finally Roars Aloud In Dramatic Boxing Day

It has indeed been a stupendous summer for Australia after sealing the Ashes 3-0 and inflicting heavy wounds on jaded England side. One thing missing was a David Warner special up till now, but the dashing opener finally stretched his arms in the ongoing 4th Test of the five-match series.
Fans would have wanted a special innings from David Warner and they got their present in the festive period. A David Warner century on the 1st day of a Test match seems a perfect Christmas present, as he latched upon the English bowlers on Boxing Day. The Melbourne crowd got an enthralling wholesome entertainment with Warner smashing 103 runs to break the shackles.
Australia ended the first day of the 4th Test at the MCG with the scorecard reading 243/3. Skipper Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh have build a safety net at the crease as the hosts look to go ahead and build a solid 1st innings total. The damage earlier was done by Warner, who looked at his best and played a defining Ashes innings.
Warner found himself in the record books with the century in a day that was filled with  lot of drama and excitement. When he was at 99, he should have been out, but replays showed a front foot no-ball bowled by Tom Curran. He stayed for four more runs only, but by then he got to his 21st Test century.
Warner is considered as one of Australia’s best ever Test player as he also got past the 6000-run mark in the format. His celebration after a special ton was a visual treat for the 88,000 odd spectators at the MCG. They could not have asked for more.
Warner got to the landmark in his 129th Test innings and equaled legendary David Boon with 21 tons to his name. Warner smashed 13 fours and a six as he gained control over the England attack and whatever that was thrown at him. The premier batsman had scored an emphatic 90 runs off just 106 balls to highlight an association of the onslaught.
But England kept him calm from there on with the left-hander looking desperate in search of a maiden ton in this Ashes series. His miscued pull-shot on 99 was a result of his quietness in the nervous 90s, but was lucky to survive.
At the end of Curran’s over that saw Warner get saved, the Englishman had a word of exchange with the Australia’s vice-captain. Johnny Bairstow too got into the tussle of words as there were verbal exchanges. It was an agony of sorts for Curran after the no-ball incident that left him embarrassed.
Ashes is known for the exchanges, accusations and sledging. Post the 1st day’s play, Warner went on to reveal the dramatic incident
According to The Telegraph, Warner said, “It was just one of those things where the bowler is ­obviously going to be annoyed that he overstepped the mark and he obviously could have had me out. He muttered something and then I didn’t let it go.I had to bite back as I normally do.”
In the end the visitors got their main man James Anderson to end Warner’s stay to make sure he does not go on to score another big set of runs. Australia’s run-rate was staggering upfront with Warner at charge as he notched a 122-run opening stand. The host’s run-rate had diminished during the period where Warner looked bogged down in pursuit of his ton.
It was left to Smith, who got the scorecard ticking again as the evening progressed. The skipper bossed the final session with Shaun Marsh providing the supporting role.
Meanwhile, Warner smashed his 4th Test ton of 2017 and has 911 runs to his name this year. Another blistering knock in the 2nd innings could see him score past 1000 runs in a calendar year. In this series Warner’s best prior to this knock was 87* in the 1st Test. Smith will feel relieved too, after seeing the side’s vital cog get to a landmark tally.
Brief Score, 4th Test, Day 1: Australia (1st innings) – 243/3 (Warner 103, Smith 65*) in 89 overs.