On day two of his 100th Test, opener David Warner retired on 200 after tea as Australia built a large lead over South Africa in Melbourne. In the 37-degree heat, the 36-year-old suffered from cramps and weariness and had to be assisted off the field.
Warner and Steve Smith (85) put up 239 for the third wicket as Australia finished the day on 386-3, 197 runs ahead. When the host broadcaster’s ‘Spidercam’ toppled Anrich Nortje over, he averted major injury. Nortje was killed after being struck in the back by the camera, which is held on cables and gives aerial and close-up views of the action. He was shortly up and running again, but he acknowledged having a hurting elbow. “I turned my head, saw the camera, and realized I was too late. It happened quickly “Nortje stated that it had no effect on his bowling. “One thing we’ve discussed is how low it is. It shouldn’t be traveling at head height, in my opinion.”
Warner was hurt while celebrating.
Warner, who was under pressure after scoring only three runs in the first Test, resumed the second Test on 32 not out.
The 254-ball knock included 16 fours as well as two sixes off Keshav Maharaj. It was his third double century, his 25th hundred, and his first ton in nearly three years.
He slowly approached his century, finishing it by dragging Kagiso Rabada to the fine leg fence and celebrating with a leap into the air as the Melbourne Cricket Ground crowd rose to congratulate him. When Warner was on 124, he needed therapy for cramps half an hour before tea.
He was given another standing ovation and sank to his knees, pumping his arms in the air with a yell after completing his double century by edging for four past second slip from Lungi Ngidi. He rose to his feet and attempted another leap into the air, but landed with a cramp in his left leg and was forced to push himself up with his bat before being lifted from the ground.
His lone blunder occurred before lunch when he ran out batting partner Marnus Labuschagne for 14 while attempting to score from an overthrow.
Warner left with his team on 329-3, and they finished with Travis Head on 48 not out and Alex Carey undefeated on nine.
They were handed an injury concern, though, when all-rounder Cameron Green, who took five wickets on day one, had to retire hurt after being hit on the right index finger by a short Nortje delivery. But the day belonged to Warner, who dropped his appeal earlier this month to have his lifetime leadership ban in Australian cricket lifted, which he earned for his role in the infamous ball-tampering scandal. “It means even more for him to be able to accomplish it with his back to the wall,” Warner’s wife Candice told Fox Cricket.
“You’d think that by now, dismissing David is probably the wrong thing to do. That excites him.”
Australia leads the three-match series 1-0 after a six-wicket victory in Brisbane in the opening Test.
