David Warner blasts his way into record books in first session century

DAVID Warner has belted his way into the history books at the Sydney Cricket Ground, becoming just the fifth man ever to score a century in the first session of a Test.

Australia's David Warner hit a century in the first session on day one at the SCG.

DAVID Warner belted his way into the history books on Tuesday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, becoming just the fifth man to ever score a century in the first session of a Test.

Take a look at the stunning stats to emerge from Warner’s first-session masterclass

JOINING THE GREATS

Warner is the first player in over 40 years to notch a century in the first session of a Test.

Before Tuesday, four players had reached triple figures before lunch on day one of a Test — Victor Trumper (103 not out at lunch v England, 1902), Charles Macartney (112 not out v England, 1926), Don Bradman (105 not out v England, 1930) and Majid Khan (108 not out v New Zealand, 1976).

David Warner is only the fifth batsman to ever score a century before lunch on day one of a Test.

FIRST TIME EVER IN AUSTRALIA

What makes Warner’s innings even more special is the fact this is the first time anyone has reached triple figures before lunch on day one in a game in Australia.

Trumper, Macartney and Bradman all scored their centuries in England, while Majid’s was in New Zealand.

Remarkably, Warner wasn’t even aware he had made history when he reached triple figures. The opener only found out when he reached the team dressing room at lunch.

“It feels amazing. I wasn’t aware of the stats – until team doctor Peter Brukner told me after I came off,” Warner said.

“I only began to think about it (getting the hundred) when I was on about 80 and there were 25 minutes to go before lunch.

“Basically I thought I’d just keep working hard to get us into a great position. But with the adrenaline pumping you ride the wave and getting to the hundred was the result.”

Below are the four other men to have made a first session century in Test cricket.

Majid Khan, Karachi 1976-77 v New Zealand

The great Pakistani batsman scored his hundred off 74 balls in 113 minutes against a bowling attack led by Sir Richard Hadlee and backed by Richard Collinge, Lance Cairns and slow left-armer David O’Sullivan. He was 108 at lunch and scored four more after the break in a test that was drawn.

Don Bradman, Headingley, 1930 v England

This was the start of Bradman’s highest Test score and then world record 334, against an attack led by his long time nemesis Harold Larwood.

The Don went to lunch on day one at 105 after winning the toss.

Charlie Macartney, Headingley, 1926 v England

Four years before Bradman, Macartney became the first in 24 years to achieve the feat when he made 112 of his eventual 151 in another drawn Test. Macartney had a long career from 1907 to 1926 - interrupted by World War I .

Victor Trumper, Old Trafford, 1902 v England

Trumper was 103 at lunch on the first day in the only match so far where a batsman has scored a ton before lunch and there’s been a result in the game. He ended with 104 from a total of 299 in a thrilling match Australia won by three runs.

There are a further 17 examples of players scoring a hundred plus runs in the pre-lunch session on any day of a Test.

Two of the notable ones are:

- Greg Chappell advancing from 76 to 176 against NZ in Christchurch in 1981-82.

- Mark Taylor going from 112-215 in his 334* against Pakistan.

WARNER’S NEW YEAR’S TEST LOVE AFFAIR

Warner has now made centuries in each of his last three Tests at the SCG.

That’s a decent turn around considering he averaged 25 across his first three Tests at the venue, only passing 50 once in five innings.

Thers are his three SCG Test centuries:

101 v India, 2015

122 not out v West Indies, 2016

100 not out v Pakistan, 2017

FOURTH MOST SUB-100 BALL TEST CENTURIES

There were question marks over whether or not Warner’s aggressive style would work in the Test arena when he debuted. He’s well and truly answered those doubts with 18 centuries to his name.

Four of those hundreds have come in fewer than 100 balls and he has four of Australia’s seven fastest ever. Remarkably, the seven fastest all belong to left handers.

Australia's fastest Test 100s by balls
57 – Gilchrist
67 – Gregory
69 – Warner
78 – Warner (today)
82 – Warner
84 – Gilchrist
84 – Gilchrist

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) January 3, 2017

Only two men have scored more sub-100 ball Test centuries. One of them is Virender Sehwag — arguably the most destructrive Test opener in history — and the other is Adam Gilchrist.

These are the nine players to have scored three or more sub-100 ball Test centuries:

Seven: Virender Sehwag

Six: Adam Gilchrist

Four: David Warner, Brendon McCullum Chris Gayle

Three: Kapil Dev, Brain Lara, Shahid Afridi, Ian Botham

STILL NOT HIS FASTEST

Despite this being the first time a player has made a century in the first session, this isn’t actualy Warner’s fastest ever Test hundred.

These are the four centuries he has scored in less than 100 balls, ordered from fewest to most deliveries:

69 balls v India at the WACA Ground, 2011-12

78 balls v Pakistan at the SCG, 2016-17

82 balls v West Indies at the SCG, 2015-16

93 balls v South Africa at Adelaide Oval, 2012-13

SECOND EARLIEST CENTURY SINCE 2001

It was Virender Sehwag who first pointed Warner towards Test cricket, during their time together for Indian Premier League side the Delhi Daredevils.

Fittingly, Sehwag is the only man to reached triple figures earlier in a Test in the last 16 years.

In 2006 against the West Indies, Sehwag brought up a century 25.3 overs into day one of the St Lucia Test, going to lunch at 99.

Earliest 100 in 1st innings of Tests since 2001:
Sehwag, 25.3 overs
Warner, 26.2 (today)
Warner, 30.2
Sehwag, 30.5
Sehwag, 33.5
Sehwag, 34.2

— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) January 3, 2017

Originally published as David Warner blasts his way into record books in first session century