David Warner hopes he has finally laid to rest the notion that he is only a Twenty20 specialist after scoring his maiden Test century in Australia's second Test loss to New Zealand Monday.
Published: Dec 12, 2011, 02:32 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 12, 2011, 02:32 PM (IST)
David Warner remained unbeaten on 123 off 170 balls but could not prevent Australia’s loss in second Test © Getty Images
Hobart: Dec 12, 2011
David Warner hopes he has finally laid to rest the notion that he is only a Twenty20 specialist after scoring his maiden Test century in Australia’s second Test loss to New Zealand Monday.
Warner has made his fortune belting runs in the shorter form of the game but was almost a national hero as he carried his bat in an unbeaten 123 off 170 balls as Australia went down by seven runs to the Kiwis at Bellerive Oval.
The diminutive 25-year-old left-hander became only the 10th Australian opening batsman to bat right through an innings and the first since Simon Katich’s 131 against New Zealand in Brisbane three years ago.
Warner joins the select company of Australian Test greats Mark Taylor, David Boon, Ian Redpath, Bill Lawry, Bill Brown and Warwick Armstrong.
He hopes he has ended talk that he is a Twenty20 typecast now that he has a Test century in only his second Test match and is expected to face India in the Boxing Day opening Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
“As a kid growing up you 100 percent want to keep striving to get that baggy green (cap) and now I’ve got it I want to hold on to it as long as I can,” Warner said.
“I want to keep doing that and I’ve always wanted to prove to people that I can play the longer form. Now it’s overwhelming what I’ve done today and I’ve just proved to people that I can play the longer form.”
Warner reached his century when he tucked Doug Bracewell behind square leg for two shortly after lunch and excitedly greeted his achievement with a leap into the air and a kiss on his helmet.
“To achieve a milestone like that is always fantastic, but at the end of the day we lost and it’s disappointing more to be out there and eight runs to go and not get across the line,” he said.
Warner was a little sheepish to be awarded the man-of-the-match ahead of Kiwi match-winner Bracewell on the strength of a poll of Australian television viewers.
“I was a bit surprised. Obviously Doug bowled very well and credit to him, he bowled fantastic and on a losing side you don’t often see a man of the match but at the end of the day I’ve just got to take that through the voters,” he said.
Warner is now expected to keep his Test spot with NSW teammate Phillip Hughes coming under increasing pressure after getting out again edging to the slips.
“Obviously, there were patches there where I played at some balls where I didn’t really need to,” Warner said.
“I’m only still learning so at the end of the day whatever game I next play I have to be a bit more cautious and be a bit more tight in my defence and hopefully I can keep playing my natural game.” (AFP)
