There was a defiance in the eyes of David Warner as he moved through his celebratory routine.
A 26th Test century in the bag, Warner played the part of the weary warrior, pushing his back off the wall and forging a path to triumph against insurmountable odds.
His post-ton hand gesture was meant to represent a silencing of the critics. That’s Warner’s stock-in-trade, permanently rallying against his doubters and cynics, those shadowy forces trying to drag him down.
Well, that’s the fun narrative anyway.
It was an oft-repeated refrain through the opening day of the home Test summer, as Warner blasted Pakistan to all corners of Perth Stadium — “days like this are made for Davey”.
And while that is entirely true, it’s perhaps not for the reasons stated above.
If only every day could be like this, not just for Warner but for any batter. A blazing sun, a flat pitch and a toss won. An inexperienced bowling attack, a half-hearted fielding unit and an opening session completely devoid of tension or pressure.
Warner was locked in by the end of the first over — which went for 14, for the record — and looked a certainty for a century about half an hour later.
Warner batted beautifully. He was balanced and composed throughout, racing out of the blocks before settling into the meat of his task. He ticked off his milestones, eventually allowing Travis Head to play aggressor as he tired late in the day.
The buzz generated by Mitchell Johnson’s newspaper column a fortnight ago may have sharpened Warner’s focus, but this was an innings handed to him on a platter. To his credit, and unlike his teammates who took turns squandering starts, he gratefully accepted without hesitation.
It’s at this point we should probably recognise that this sort of innings isn’t what the “critics” have been harping on about in recent years. Warner’s ability to score runs in Australia has never been questioned, and he has few peers in that field.
The lingering questions have been about his returns overseas, most notably in India and England where he has struggled. This century was a timely reminder of everything great about Warner, but is also entirely unrelated to the wider point Johnson and others have made about his career.
But there’s nothing Warner can do to satisfy those queries now. He will not play another Test match outside of Australia, so all that’s left to do is make hay while the Perth, Melbourne and Sydney sun shines.
All of which goes some way to highlighting how confected the hoopla about Warner’s “farewell tour” has been. It’s an uncomfortable truth, but if ever a player was going to be afforded a summer-long send-off, this is the summer to do it.
The stakes aren’t nearly as high as they would be for a visit from England or India, and there is a general acceptance of the autumnal feel to this summer of cricket. A great team is about to start dissipating, one by one, and this is the start of that process.
Pakistan present as a raw and relatively untested opponent, one that limped through long stretches of an opening day briefly punctuated by moments of promise.
Khurram Shahzad was the architect of most of those moments. On debut he proved his Test bona fides as a wily and patient seamer, a point proven by his maiden scalp of Steve Smith.
Shahzad was the only Pakistani pace bowler able to keep his economy rate below four runs an over. Shaheen Shah Afridi, now the talisman of the attack, was poor before lunch but improved throughout the day.
Aamer Jamal and Faheem Ashraf were harshly dealt with, and part-time spinner Agha Salman was tidy and at times unfortunate.
Collectively, they would have struck little fear in the hearts of Australian batters. Even as they enjoyed a dominant first day in Perth, there would have been a tinge of disappointment that more wasn’t made of the promising start for the hosts.
Smith, like Usman Khawaja, fell to a loose and lazy shot outside the off stump. Marnus Labuschagne missed a straight one, but reviewed it anyway. Head played catching practice with a fielder at third.
All four men will feel as if they had the chance to do as Davey did.
Warner’s 164 in Perth will confirm his selection through to an SCG swan song, if there was really any doubt at all. But it did something else too.
It moved him into the top five for most runs scored by an Australian in Test cricket. Ever.
Peel away all the debates, all the controversy, all the doubts and frustrations and disappointment, that’s what Warner’s career will be.
Very few have ever scored runs like this man, nor make it look as easy as he did on day one of the 2023/24 summer against Pakistan in Perth.
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