- By Ankit Bisht
- Thu, 14 Dec 2023 07:27 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Australia opener David Warner played a knock of 164 runs on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Perth. The opener, playing in his farewell series, celebrated his century with a special 'shush' gesture targeted towards his critics.
Before the start of the series, Warner made headlines after former Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson criticised his selection in the Australian squad in a newspaper column.
"You saw what it was. It was a nice little quiet shush. It's just anyone who wants to write stories about me and trying to use headlines, get headlines, that stuff doesn't bother me. It's just the fact that I have to go out there and do what I have to do. And I'm allowed to celebrate how I want," Warner said after the end of the day's play in Perth.
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When asked whether he would try to mend his equation with Johnson, Warner stressed what former coach Justin Langer wrote in his column that the retired pacer should have "praised in public and criticised in private."
"Mitch is entitled to his opinion. He's a former player. You saw Justin Langer's comments. He said he's entitled to it. You can go back to Justin Langer's comments and refer to them and so be it," Warner said.
Warner's 26th Test century powered Australia to 346 for 5 at stumps on the first day. He harassed Pakistan's seam attack during the first session, outrageously hitting fast-bowler Shaheen Afridi for six over fine leg in a sign of what was still to come.
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Surpassing former greats Matthew Hayden (8625) and Michael Clarke (8643) to become Australia's fifth-highest Test run-scorer with 8651, Warner added a further three sixes during his aggressive and determined innings -- albeit with a dose of luck.
A dropped catch and a missed stumping to spinner Agha Salman allowed the left-hander to pass 150 before he eventually miscued Jamal to Imam-ul-Haq at backward square.
"I am getting older ... it's probably game-by-game now. If I fail next innings there'll probably be headlines, but it is what it is."
(With Reuters inputs)