David Warner joins elite club after scoring double century in his 100th Test

David Warner became the 10th man in Test history to score a century in his 100th Test, and the second to score a double, breaking a near three-year Test century drought with a rollicking innings against South Africa at the MCG.

In making his 25th Test century, and his third Test double century, he joined an illustrious group of names to achieve the milestone and became just the second Australian to do it behind Ricky Ponting, who is the only player to score twin hundreds in his 100th Test. Joe Root was the only other player to score a double hundred in his 100th Test.

Warner also became only the second player to score a century in both his 100th ODI as well as 100th Test, after Gordon Greenidge, and became the eighth Australian to pass 8000 Test runs during the course of his innings.

He had vowed pre-match to return to his old self and take the attack to South Africa's bowlers, and he did just that posting his first Test century since January 2020, breaking a 27-innings stretch without a hundred. He also posted his first 50-plus score in Test cricket in 11 innings since his previous half-century in Lahore earlier this year. It was just his second international century in all formats since January 2020 as well after scoring his only other century at the MCG in an ODI in November against England.

Warner's was an innings in the mould of his very best in Test cricket, whisking the game away from the opposition after Australia's bowling unit had torn through the opposition on day one. It wasn't quite the domineering century in the final session at Perth on day one in 2012 against India, but he raced out of the blocks on Monday to be 32 not out at stumps in less than an hour of batting.

He took on the short ball that had dismissed him in the first Test in Brisbane with fearlessness, pulling and cutting at will. He enjoyed some luck that he had lamented so far this summer with two outside edges and one inside edge finding the rope. He was also hit on the helmet on the second morning with a glancing blow while trying to pull Anrich Nortje. But he was busy and proactive as he drove relentlessly and with control off both feet.

He did lose Marnus Labuschagne to a needless run out in a desperate bid to put pressure on South Africa with his fanatical running between the wickets. But he also profited with three all-run fours as his phenomenal fitness shone through on a brutally hot day in Melbourne.

Warner fought through a nervous period just after lunch, surviving an extraordinary spell of 150kph-plus thunderbolts from Nortje, one of which hit him flush on the left index finger and required treatment from the Australia team physio.

He brought up his century with a fine pull off Kagiso Rabada to spark a trademark, extended celebration that was full of emotion. His century came off just 144 balls.

Warner wasn't done there, thrashing South Africa's bowlers to all parts in the blazing afternoon heat. The temperature reached 37 degrees with hot northerly winds. He fought through cramps and heat exhaustion to thrash his second century off just 110 balls. He cramped badly while trying to celebrate his double century and was forced to retire hurt, with the physio helping him limp off the ground.