On the second day of the Melbourne Test, David Warner stole the show as he punished the South African bowlers. In his 100th Test match, the opening batsman smashed numerous records and went on to score a double century. The second day ended with Australia finishing at 386/3 despite his injury retirement.
The visitors’ opening inning saw them score 189 runs in 68.4 overs. Warner abandoned the game owing to discomfort after being the first Australian to make a double century in his 100th Test, leaving him unhappy and exhausted during Australia‘s first innings. The Australians, on the other hand, won by 197 runs at the end of the day.
Warner and Steve Smith put together an outstanding third-wicket partnership, scoring 239 runs together. Smith described an amusing but unique chat he had with Warner during their collaboration when Warner was in charge.
“The more he started to cramp the more shots he started to play and everything seemed to be coming out of the middle. It was an amazing knock and nice to be up the other end for a large chunk of it. I was doing my thing and he was doing his. It was just like, ‘Keep batting’. He was like, ‘I’m cramping.’ I was like, ‘Good. Just keep going’,” Smith was quoted saying by Hindustan Times.
🗣️ "That's the fastest spell I've ever faced in my Test career. That was extraordinary."
– David Warner on what it was like facing that 🔥 from Anrich Nortje.@copes9 | #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/MYOnAj5tu2
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 27, 2022
Also Read: Cameron Green To Miss The 3rd Test Match Against South Africa
Steve Smith scored 85 runs off 161 balls with nine fours and a six. On the other hand, Warner concluded his innings on 200*(254), which included 16 fours and 2 sixes on the second day before being removed on the first ball he faced on the third.
“I don’t see why not” – Steve Smith on David Warner’s Test future
David Warner received criticism for his performance prior to the knock, and some experts even advised that the batter should think about leaving the format. Smith made the following observation regarding Warner’s potential in the game:
“I don’t see why not. He’s fit and I don’t see any reason why he can’t continue playing. He was certainly seeing the ball pretty well today, so fingers crossed he can keep playing well and he can play for as long as he likes.”
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