AUS vs SA: David Warner hits 100 in his 100th Test to join the elite club, crosses 8000 runs

Australia opener David Warner slammed a century in his 100th Test during day 2 of the AUS vs SA Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday, December 27. Warner reached the mark off just 144 balls with a four down the on-side off South Africa seamer Kagiso Rabada.

Also Read: Most men's ODI hundreds for Australia: Warner surpasses Waugh on the list

The 36-year-old Warner became just the 10th batter and second Australian in Test history to hit a hundred in their milestone 100th appearance in whites. Former Aussie captain Ricky Ponting is the only batter to score two centuries in his 100th Test.

Warner has been on a lean patch in Test cricket, and his recent form was heavily scrutinized. His 25th Test ton and fifth against South Africa helped Warner end a streak of 27 innings without crossing the three-figure mark.

Warner, who made his Test debut in 2011, also went past the 8000-run mark during the knock - the eighth Australian batter to the feat. Warner's 25 Test tons places him in the fifth spot among all openers in Test cricket. Sunil Gavaskar (33), Alastair Cook (31), Matthew Hayden (30), and Graeme Smith (27) are the only batters ahead of Warner on this list.

Warner (45) has the second-most international centuries among active players, only behind Virat Kohli (72). The dashing left-hander also equaled Sachin Tendulkar (45) for most tons as an opener across formats.

Read Also: Most runs for India in Test cricket

Batters to hit 100 in their 100th Test

Colin Cowdrey - 104 - England v Australia, 1968
Javed Miandad - 145 - Pakistan v India, 1989
Gordon Greenidge - 149 - West Indies v England, 1990
Alex Stewart - 105 - England v West Indies, 2000
Inzamam-ul-Haq - 184 - Pakistan v India, 200
Ricky Ponting - 120 and 143* - Australia v South Africa, 2006
Graeme Smith - 131 - South Africa v England, 2012
Hashim Amla - 134 - South Africa v Sri Lanka, 2017
Joe Root - 218 - England v India, 2021
David Warner - 100* - Australia v South Africa, 2022