Australia 365-3 at stumps on day one of the SCG Test against Pakistan
David Warner and Matt Renshaw score centuries of contrasting brilliance
7.11am GMT
And that is it for day one
Thank you to JP Howcroft for his contributions earlier and thanks to all of you for your emails and tweets. See you again in the morning!
#realopeners pic.twitter.com/Cuxno8M2uh
7.08am GMT
The day in brief
Runs. Lots of them. Mostly to David Warner and Matt Renshaw. It was a frenetic start to the day as Warner raced to the first ever hundred before lunch by an Australian Test batsman playing on home soil. When he departed for 113 from 95 deliveries, an entire nation groaned. He was simply astonishing in peeling off one of the most memorable of his 18 Test centuries.
7.02am GMT
88th over: Australia 365-3 (Renshaw 167, Handscomb 40)
That is stumps on day one, a day of cricket which has belonged to David Warner and Matt Renshaw and their remarkably different but differently remarkable centuries. Warner unleashed his before lunch to make history, while the younger man walks off undefeated with 167 next to his name – the tortoise to his team-mate’s hare. And that is that for the day. Australia has dominated with the bat and Pakistan will now lick their wounds.
6.55am GMT
87th over: Australia 356-3 (Renshaw 161, Handscomb 37)
If Matt Renshaw is feeling any pressure late in the day he’s not showing it, though 160 runs in his kick no doubt helps. Amir’s line is tight and unrelenting but eventually too straight, so he’s turned for a single. That’s it for the over. Handscomb shuts up shop again and punishes Pakistan with his patience.
6.51am GMT
86th over: Australia 355-3 (Renshaw 160, Handscomb 37)
The most nervous man in the arena right now is the aforementioned Hilton Cartwright who is sitting nervously by the door in the Australian dressing room as the minutes tick down towards 6pm local time. As he sweats on the last few overs, Renshaw works another single off Wahab, who is on to replace Imran and produces a tidy but unthreatening over.
6.46am GMT
85th over: Australia 353-3 (Renshaw 159, Handscomb 37)
Renshaw pushes a single to cover off the second ball of Amir’s over, and the non-striker’s end looks the safest bet right now. This partnership is now worth 109 from 25 overs and Handscomb looks good to see things through until the end of the day.
6.41am GMT
84th over: Australia 352-3 (Renshaw 158, Handscomb 37)
Bang! Peter Handscomb is back into the action now, sweating on something loose from Imran Khan and getting it from the final delivery of the over, which he whips off his pads to send the shiny Kookaburra thudding into the fence. The danger is at the other end, for sure, but the Australians are finishing the day strongly.
6.36am GMT
83rd over: Australia 345-3 (Renshaw 155, Handscomb 33)
Oof. It hasn’t been his day today but Amir produces an absolute snorter to swing one past Renshaw’s outside edge. The batsman nods in approval; ‘I’ve been pretty damned good today,’ his look says, ‘but that was a beauty.’ He gets a single behind point but that’s the only damage. The Australian pair will be very content with their work if they survive this Amir spell and head to the showers unscathed.
6.32am GMT
82nd over: Australia 344-3 (Renshaw 154, Handscomb 33)
Imran Khan comes back now with the new ball and he’s being clapped in as Matt Renshaw approaches the 150 mark, which he does by helping a straight one to the rope at deep mid-wicket. Sydney is in love with him, and why not?
6.26am GMT
81st over: Australia 339-3 (Renshaw 149, Handscomb 33)
Mohammad Amir returns now with the new ball, which Pakistan have taken in order to try and force the issue late in the day. The removal of either of these batsmen would bring debutant Hilton Cartwright to the crease, and anything could happen at that point. It’s a decent start from Amir but Handscomb drives him for an emphatic boundary from the final delivery.
6.22am GMT
80th over: Australia 335-3 (Renshaw 149, Handscomb 29)
Yasir fares no better than Shafiq, creamed through point for a boundary and barely hanging on in the face of the late onslaught. The tourists are a bit of a rabble right now. Stumps can’t come quick enough.
6.19am GMT
79th over: Australia 328-3 (Renshaw 144, Handscomb 27)
Asad Shafiq is back with his off spin, so Misbah is clearly bricking it about the over rate and wants to whiz through a few quick ones. The Australians trade in singles and Renshaw gets four rolling his wrists over a handsome on drive. Spinners don’t bowl short overs if they’re being belted all over the place, Misbah.
6.13am GMT
78th over: Australia 319-3 (Renshaw 137, Handscomb 25)
Yasir has a slip and a silly point to Handscomb, but you’d forgive him a feeling of resignation in these last 12 overs or so, especially after the reversal of that lbw call. The SCG crowd is, unsurprisingly, loving it.
6.12am GMT
Huge inside edge! Decision reversed! Yasir Shah is out of luck today.
6.12am GMT
And the Australian thinks he’s edged it. Or at least I hope he thinks that because it looks dead in front.
6.08am GMT
77th over: Australia 318-3 (Renshaw 137, Handscomb 24)
We do know that Matt Renshaw loves a big hundred. It’s not a large sample size to choose from but he’s already made a 170 in first-class ranks, so if he can survive until stumps this one could be a daddy hundred. Right as I say that Peter Handscomb re-emerges, pasting Wahab through cover for four of his own to move into the 20s. He’s never been out for fewer than 54 in Tests. Trouble for Pakistan.
6.04am GMT
76th over: Australia 310-3 (Renshaw 136, Handscomb 17)
Reverse sweep! Renshaw is tacking the Mickey now and switches his grip to belt Yasir for another four down to conventional third man. He’s auditioning for the Big Bash as well! Misbah reacts by bringing in a gully when the horse is bolted, so Renshaw does a bit of galloping of his own to get down the track and lift the spinner over long-off for four more. Party time at the SCG.
Matt Renshaw now the perfect hybrid between Glenn Maxwell and Bill Lawry. #AusvPak
6.00am GMT
75th over: Australia 301-3 (Renshaw 127, Handscomb 17)
OK, now some belated short stuff at Renshaw, for whom Wahab introduces a leg slip. Never mind that, Wahab is through him with a length ball that is too tight to cut. Has the field change induced that error by planting the seed? Maybe. A few balls later Renshaw regains the upper hand, latching onto some width and hammering Wahab through gully for another boundary to bring up 300 for his side. What a day it’s turned into for the four-Test rookie opener.
5.57am GMT
74th over: Australia 296-3 (Renshaw 122, Handscomb 17)
We’re back after drinks and Ian Chappell is sharing Alan Kippax late cut anecdotes on Channel Nine. Geez we’ll miss him when he’s gone. He’s been giving a cricket history masterclass today.
5.49am GMT
73rd over: Australia 294-3 (Renshaw 122, Handscomb 15)
He’s been a little scratchy in the early stages of this knock but Peter Handscomb middles one to pick up his first boundary, driving square off the returning Wahab Riaz. And with that, we’ll take drinks.
5.44am GMT
72nd over: Australia 288-3 (Renshaw 121, Handscomb 10)
Oh dear. Yasir is out of luck again at the start of this over as Handscomb dances down the track at him, misses a drive but gets a reprieve when a near-motionless Sarfraz entirely misses the stumping chance as it turns towards slip. He didn’t even move his hands! A few balls later, owing to Sod’s law, Yasir is driven through cover for another Renshaw boundary and kicks the turf in frustration. That’s as angry as he ever gets, the poor spinner. Rotten luck. With that Yasir is beyond a century himself but not the kind you want.
5.41am GMT
71st over: Australia 280-3 (Renshaw 116, Handscomb 9)
Wow. What the heck was that? Renshaw tries to whip Imran over cow corner and a thick outside edge almost plonks across the rope at third man. That came a few balls after Imran had dropped one short and been dispatched through point. Everything is falling into place for Matt Renshaw.
5.37am GMT
70th over: Australia 272-3 (Renshaw 108, Handscomb 9)
Warnie has picked up on a thread of mine from earlier, though I doubt he’s been reading this or any other blog; why didn’t Amir and his mates try a few more bouncers at Renshaw? Chivalry? Anyway, Handscomb sweeps Yasir for one here and the spinner seems to have recovered from his fielding mishap of the over prior. Renshaw glides the final delivery – a wrong ‘un – down near the rope at third man to pick up three.
5.33am GMT
69th over: Australia 267-3 (Renshaw 104, Handscomb 8)
Oh dear. This is not what Pakistan need at this point. Yasir Shah has chased a ball to the boundary and in the process of sliding to make a save and throwing it back in to Sarfraz he’s done himself some kind of mischief. Back? Knee? Hammy? I’m not really sure, but his usual grin is replaced by a pained grimace, so it clearly isn’t much fun. Whatever it is he appears to have stayed on the field. Just the single no ball from Imran in this over. In Oprah giveaway terms, there’s almost been one for every member of the audience in this series.
5.27am GMT
68th over: Australia 263-3 (Renshaw 101, Handscomb 8)
Relieved at passing his milestone, Renshaw gets just a touch casual now turning Yasir to the leg side for a single, because the short leg almost came into play. With just over 90 minutes to play on day one the home side are on top.
5.22am GMT
67th over: Australia 262-3 (Renshaw 100, Handscomb 8)
Imran Khan comes back into the attack now and starts ingloriously, overstepping with a no ball first up. He’s no Robinson Crusoe on that one but blimey, it’s a bad way to begin a spell. The rest of it is decent enough and Handscomb sits back and waits for something he likes.
Well done @MattRenshaw449 on maiden test 100. Can't wait to hear all the critics who said he bats too slow #class
5.17am GMT
66th over: Australia 261-3 (Renshaw 100, Handscomb 8)
Renshaw reaches his hundred! There was two to start the Yasir over and with one needed for his milestone the lumbering lefty turns one around the corner and benefits from some smart running by Peter Handscomb at the danger end to get home. He’s done it! His maiden Test ton has come from 201 deliveries and has Australia well positioned on day one. It came in stark contrast to the blazing century of his opening partner David Warner but it’s exactly the kind of mature knock that could kickstart a productive international career. He’s done it his way and he’s done it beautifully. At 20 years of age he’s opened his account.
5.14am GMT
65th over: Australia 255-3 (Renshaw 97, Handscomb 5)
I was half-expecting a bouncer here to start with but Amir strays onto Renshaw’s hip to be turned for one. Handscomb handles the rest, defending cautiously and never looking particularly troubled by what he sees.
5.08am GMT
64th over: Australia 254-3 (Renshaw 96, Handscomb 5)
There are three men in the deep for Renshaw as he approaches his hundred, but the youngster isn’t really the type to hole out at this point. He pulls Yasir for a single to move within four of his milestone and the over finishes with Handscomb being beaten all ends up but a Yasir leg break, which fizzes past the outside edge.
5.05am GMT
63rd over: Australia 251-3 (Renshaw 95, Handscomb 3)
He was almost undone by Amir’s bounce and venom two overs back but now Renshaw turns two and then one to leg when the paceman is a little too straight. Better still is a drive from Peter Handscomb, who caresses the ball through cover to get two more of his own.
5.02am GMT
62nd over: Australia 246-3 (Renshaw 92, Handscomb 1)
Yasir continues to the new man Handscomb, who takes four balls to get off the mark with a single to mid-on. Renshaw has recovered well from his knock and turns a single out to deep mid-wicket to retain the strike.
4.56am GMT
61st over: Australia 244-3 (Renshaw 91, Handscomb 0)
It’s a laugh a minute now as Nine show some vision outside the ground, where a fan is cocking her leg up over the SCG’s Steve Waugh statue, as though she’s going to ride him like a horse. Now there is an Instragram post.
Renshaw with a big smile after keeping out the follow-up delivery from Amir. The Aussie opener is 91* #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/KSBalq3ZWJ
4.50am GMT
60th over: Australia 244-3 (Renshaw 91, Handscomb 0)
Victorian Peter Handscomb is the new man in for Australia and he’s almost off the mark from a misfield at cover, but decides against the potential for the cardinal sin of being run out thus. Speaking of Michael Clarke, there’s a more enjoyably awkward moment replayed now; a mid-pitch meeting between Australian coach Darren Lehmann and Micky Arthur, the man he replaced. Apparently it happened before play and Clarke was on hand with his camera phone. There’s one for your Instagram account.
4.48am GMT
He’s out! Steve Smith is out! I can’t quite believe it but I’ve just seen it with my own eyes. Yasir drags another one down short and Smith rocks back to play the cut, but it perhaps shoots through a little quicker because the shot is faulty and sends a thick edge behind to Sarfraz. Smart catch that, but a truly odd sight. The Australian skipper is gorn!
4.44am GMT
59th over: Australia 243-2 (Renshaw 90, Smith 24)
At least Amir is making things happen here. Smith drives through cover for two at the start of the over but he’s soon hopping about and gets rapped on the gloves by the left-armer. Clearly it didn’t tickle, because he’s got his glove off and grimaces in pain as he checks there are still five digits underneath it. Channel Nine, meanwhile, are replaying some highlights of Pakistan’s win in the 1995 SCG Test, and Michael Clarke delights in reeling off all the names...until the camera pans to Steve Randell. Fair call.
4.40am GMT
58th over: Australia 237-2 (Renshaw 89, Smith 19)
Yasir returns after the break but the results are much the same as Smith sweats on something loose and then pounces, hammering a boundary down the ground and working three around the corner. An over whose first four deliveries impressed ends up costing eight runs.
4.37am GMT
57th over: Australia 229-2 (Renshaw 88, Smith 12)
We’re back after tea on day one, and Mohammad Amir will have his first whirl since before lunch. Facing him is Matt Renshaw, whose first Test century is creeping up on us. Well, it’ll it come even faster than that if Amir gives him half-trackers like the one he pummels through point to move to 87 here. There’s also a single to fine leg but that presents an interesting replay; were it not for a fine inside edge onto the pad he actually would have been trapped in front. If he’s going to wander across his stumps like his captain, he’ll need to make solid contact with those ones.
4.29am GMT
No better batting partner for @MattRenshaw449 than the Skipper @stevesmith49 as he heads towards 1st test 100. Good luck #future #AUSvPAK
4.12am GMT
56th over: Australia 224-2 (Renshaw 83, Smith 12)
That is tea on day one in Sydney, a day so far dominated by Australia, whose captain Steve Smith finishes the session by stroking four through cover of Yasir. If Matt Renshaw does indeed make it to his maiden Test hundred today, it will have contrasted as dramatically as could be imagined with that of his opening partner David Warner, who reached his before lunch and departed 23 overs ago. Renshaw will reach his after tea at his current rate. I’ll be taking you through all of it, but might just nick off for a Gatorade of my own. Back soon.
4.09am GMT
55th over: Australia 219-2 (Renshaw 82, Smith 8)
And now for something completely different, Asad Shafiq appears with some off-spin, which will either delight or horrify club trundlers watching at home. Scared stiff of getting out to it, Renshaw takes his time and has a look before paddling three around the corner to move into the 80s. We’ll have one more over before tea.
4.06am GMT
54th over: Australia 216-2 (Renshaw 79, Smith 8)
He’s made for excellent journalistic fodder on this Australian trip, but I am still a little bummed out that Yasir hasn’t delivered the goods. He’s such a magnificent bowler when he’s on song. Right now he’s bowling them so badly Steve Smith is unprepared for the just how awful one long-hop is, so mis-times his cut. Injury is added to insult when Smith hammers a drive down the pitch and Yasir misses it with his hand, copping it flush on the shin instead. Ouch. His motley collection of deliveries end up a maiden, and I can’t even explain how that is so.
4.03am GMT
53rd over: Australia 216-2 (Renshaw 79, Smith 8)
We’re ten minutes from tea as Wahab starts this over and Australia are in a commanding position if these two see it through until the break. As they attempt to do so, Sydney has darkened to the extant that the lights are brought into action. Wahab abandons his third delivery, perhaps suspecting it’s going to be another of his frequent no balls. It does the trick. Maiden.
3.58am GMT
52nd over: Australia 216-2 (Renshaw 79, Smith 8)
“I can’t believe this guy has been number one bowler in the world just recently,” says Waqar Younis by way of introduction as Yasir Shah returns with one of the ropiest, filthiest half-trackers seen since the last time Steve Smith bowled. This time, unfortunately for Pakistan, Smithy is the batsman on strike and flogs to the fence at deep mid-wicket. The over doesn’t cost anymore but that one blow seems a little wounding for Yasir.
3.55am GMT
51st over: Australia 212-2 (Renshaw 79, Smith 4)
Wahab comes, Wahab goes. Matt Renshaw cashes in this time, ruthlessly flicking four through mid-wicket from the opening delivery of the over when the bowler strays onto his pads. Wahab has forced both breakthroughs today but bowled some real dross otherwise.
3.51am GMT
50th over: Australia 208-2 (Renshaw 75, Smith 4)
For reasons unknown to me, Azhar Ali continues in place of Yasir. He’s gota slip and a short leg, but drops short to Steve Smith to be cut for two, and there are plenty of runs to be had elsewhere. I know Pakistan need to get through some quick overs but they’re doing themselves no favours gently playing Smith in like this.
3.48am GMT
49th over: Australia 204-2 (Renshaw 74, Smith 1)
The only problem here for Wahab and his colleagues is that the dismissal of Khawaja brings Steve Smith and his 60.64 Test average to the crease. He’s made runs for fun this summer and works one to square leg to get off the mark.
3.43am GMT
Khawaja departs! And not for the first time this summer the left-hander falls to a lazy swipe outside off stump, feathering an inside edge behind against a ball that might have been left. A worrying trend? He’ll be kicking himself to have missed out on this track. Wahab does the job again!
3.41am GMT
48th over: Australia 203-1 (Renshaw 74, Khawaja 13)
The partnership between these two reaches 50 from 91 deliveries with a single to Khawaja, who has contributed only 13 to the stand as he feels his way into this innings. Azhar Ali’s part-time spin is looking about as dangerous as Michael Buble’s Christmas album.
3.39am GMT
47th over: Australia 200-1 (Renshaw 72, Khawaja 12)
Wahab nipped out Warner before and replaces Imran now with the hope of repeating the feat, but starts with huge no ball. Deary me. He still hasn’t got it right. Has he not set his bowling mark back half a pace? Anyway, Renshaw is 72 from 152 deliveries now and none less than Bill Lawry, his left-hand opening forefather, says he really needs to cash in with a hundred today. It’s certainly there for the taking.
3.33am GMT
46th over: Australia 198-1 (Renshaw 72, Khawaja 11)
Azhar continues with his spin, pushing men into the deep and hoping to race through a few overs to get Pakistan’s rate up a little. Khawaja remains lethargic in his knock so far but works the ball around without trouble to move into double figures. A woeful misfield at cover by Sharjeel Khan hands Renshaw two bonus runs.
3.30am GMT
45th over: Australia 192-1 (Renshaw 69, Khawaja 8)
Matt Renshaw has slowed a little again after his post-lunch spree, but slices a couple of runs past gully by opening the face of his bat, which is coming down at an awkward but effective angle. Far better is full-blooded cover drive a few balls later, which the Queenslander just lathers through the gap to hit the ropes. He loves it, grinning like a schoolboy as he greets Khawaja in the middle of the pitch.
3.26am GMT
44th over: Australia 185-1 (Renshaw 62, Khawaja 8)
Some part-time spin now as Azhar Ali replaces Yasir with his leggies, which are far more handy than his Test bowling average suggests. David Warner has appeared by the sidelines as that happens and says he was using a brand new bat today. Hats off to Stuart Kranzbuhler, who makes them down at the Gray Nicolls factory at Mordialloc in Melbourne’s south. It’s clearly one of his better creations.
3.21am GMT
43rd over: Australia 182-1 (Renshaw 60, Khawaja 7)
Imran soldiers on after drinks and he’s pursuing a fourth or fifth stump line to Khawaja, who is perfectly content to leave them as they tail away towards the cordon. It’s building a decent amount of pressure at the opposite end to Yasir, but pressure is a relative concept when you’re 182-1 from 43 overs. It’s a maiden in the end.
3.13am GMT
42nd over: Australia 182-1 (Renshaw 60, Khawaja 7)
Yasir has a leg slip for Matt Renshaw but there’s not much doing for the spinner right now. Renshaw moves off strike with a single, paving the way for Khawaja to cream a full bunger through cover for three runs. The latter hasn’t started as smoothly as we’ve come to expect, but I’m sure he’ll work his way in soon enough. He also might want to work on his calling; some pessimism costs Renshaw a third to end the over. That’s drinks.
3.09am GMT
41st over: Australia 174-1 (Renshaw 55, Khawaja 4)
Imran continues to charge in energetically, and as he does so there’s a sort of intriguing discussion between the Michaels Clarke and Slater (hear me out) regarding the suitability or not of Matt Renshaw for the upcoming India tour. Clarke is #TeamRenshaw, and adds that Australia should perhaps take Shaun Marsh with them, but that the young Queenslander has done enough to get first dibs at the opening spot. I’d tend to agree.
3.04am GMT
40th over: Australia 171-1 (Renshaw 52, Khawaja 4)
Yasir bounds in to Khawaja but he’s again pursuing that leg stump line, which brings the short leg into play but few other fieldsmen out there have much to worry about. Khawaja has a chance to unfurl a cover drive from the final delivery but mis-times the stroke and it’s easy enough to cut off.
Few than 30,000 people at the SCG on day one in same summer it was suggested Sydney should get two Tests. Righto #AUSvPAK
3.02am GMT
39th over: Australia 171-1 (Renshaw 52, Khawaja 4)
Renshaw starts the over by turning a single to fine leg off Imran, but his mini-resurgence continues with more tidy stuff to follow, and he’s desperately unlucky when Khawaja slashes one towards gully where Babar Azam shells a sharp but very catchable chance. Oh dear. That could be costly. It really flew to him but at Test level you’ve got to hold those.
2.58am GMT
38th over: Australia 169-1 (Renshaw 51, Khawaja 3)
This is a far better effort from Yasir, who ties up Renshaw until he pushes a single from the final delivery of the over. At the mid-way point of the second session he’s wicketless but not without hope on the day one wicket.
2.55am GMT
37th over: Australia 168-1 (Renshaw 50, Khawaja 3)
With Warner out of the way, Misbah feels a little more comfortable reintroducing paceman Imran Khan, whose more famous namesake might have been directing him to the deed poll office after watching his efforts earlier in the day; 0-44 from seven overs. They say his virtue is that unlike Sohail Khan, whom he replaced in this side, he can come back for productive second, third and even fourth spells. They’d want to be better than his first, and he starts well enough with a maiden to Khawaja.
%age of balls that would have hit the stumps this innings
Imran - 2.27
Amir - 16.67
Wahab - 1.52
Yasir - 19.7 #AUSvPAK
2.49am GMT
36th over: Australia 168-1 (Renshaw 50, Khawaja 3)
Not for the first time today Yasir drops short with the opening delivery of the over and this time it’s Matt Renshaw flogging him through mid-wicket to pick up four, and he makes it to his half-century a few balls later in knocking one down to long on. That took 115 deliveries; his first 25 runs took 84 balls, his second 31. That is proper Test match batting. As he’s seizing the momentum, so does Khawaja, stepping back and slashing three through point to get off the mark.
2.46am GMT
35th over: Australia 160-1 (Renshaw 45, Khawaja 0)
All pectoral muscles and grunting, Wahab charges in again to Renshaw and gets driven for two through mid-on, compounding the over-pitch with a signature over-step for the no ball. He’s cranking it up around the 140kmph mark most of the time but the young Queenslander is handling him with comfort as he grows into this innings. Slow and steady wins the race?
2.40am GMT
34th over: Australia 156-1 (Renshaw 42, Khawaja 0)
Yasir Shah breathes a heavy sigh of relief, hands his cap to the umpire and sets off towards Matt Renshaw and a brighter immediate future without Warner at the crease. Renshaw sweeps another two runs to keep things ticking but gets lucky soon after when he moves down the track and fails to read a straighter one, which slicing off the outside edge for three. If Yasir dropped any bread at lunch, you can bet your bottom dollar it hit the ground butter-side down.
2.37am GMT
33rd over: Australia 151-1 (Renshaw 37, Khawaja 0)
The silver lining here is that we’ll now get to watch Usman Khawaja, whose strokeplay is just sheer joy. He starts by leaving a length ball in princely style, swishing his arms about with that theatrical flourish which has become his trademark. It’s a wicket maiden from Wahab, whose done his side a power of good by removing David Warner.
#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/orlGLh5bcK
2.34am GMT
Warner goes! A scything innings comes to an end as the Australian star tries to flick one over the cordon and instead fences a thick edge through to Sarfraz behind the stumps. What a shame. It’s hard to look a gift horse in the mouth in this case but he really has left a lot of runs out there. His history-making knock of 113 from 95 deliveries is done and dusted.
2.32am GMT
32nd over: Australia 151-0 (Warner 113, Renshaw 37)
Again Yasir drops short to Warner and again the Australian’s pull shot fizzes off the bat before being cut off in the deep, so a single is the only cost of a real ‘four ball’. Soon after Renshaw goes a little subtler, dropping to one knee and proposing a sweep, which does the job for four. Yasir laughs heartily, perhaps to stop himself from crying, perhaps before he’s delirious. Australia are past the 150 without loss and continue to punish the tourists. David Warner is giving them double vision.
2.27am GMT
31st over: Australia 146-0 (Warner 112, Renshaw 33)
The news continues to get worse for Pakistan fans as Mohammad Amir now trots off the ground for treatment on an injury. His side needs him more than ever at the moment and there’s a slightly defeated air to them as they scatter far and wide in an attempt to limit the damage flowing from David Warner’s sizeable Gray-Nicolls ‘Kaboom’, which might actually be from the old ACME factory where Wile E Coyote did his shopping. Wahab’s over costs five runs, which is good going by Pakistan’s current standards.
I'm going to be a little disappointed if Warner doesn't 100 Lunch-Tea & then another 100 from Tea to Stumps. Precedent is set! #AUSvPAK
2.24am GMT
30th over: Australia 141-0 (Warner 108, Renshaw 32)
Yasir continues to bowl it a little straight, turning towards or past leg, and Warner is shuffling about to try and whip through his favoured off-side. Yasir ends the over as close to frustration as he’s likely to get, shaking his head ruefully and mopping his brow after Warner burgles another single off a perfectly sound delivery.
2.20am GMT
29th over: Australia 136-0 (Warner 106, Renshaw 31)
Following the pattern of the pre-lunch action, an early single to Warner gives way to some obdurate, old-school batting from Renshaw, who pleasingly continues to be his own man against the bowling of Wahab. Renshaw gets lucky twice to finish the over, chopping an inside edge past his stumps and then almost running himself out when he returns to the crease at the bowler’s end having grounded his bat short. You don’t see that too often.
2.14am GMT
28th over: Australia 132-0 (Warner 103, Renshaw 28)
And we’re back at the SCG. “They’re like Brown’s cows”, says Ian Chappell of the tourists, who are a little slow to get into their positions for Yasir Shah’s first over after the break. He’s bowling accurately to Warner to begin with, but gets lucky when a long-hop is biffed straight to the man at deep square leg so only costs a single. There’s a streaky three to Renshaw and then Warner’s on the attack again, slashing a couple past point. Buckle in for more of the same here.
Warner
17 x 4
2 x 3
5 x 2
16 x 1
38 x 0#AusvPak
In 1930 when Bradman scored his 100 before lunch, Australia was 1-136 off 276 deliveries; Bradman 105 off 153, Woodfull 29 off 115.
2.07am GMT
A great stream of Warner stats
...from very funny man Andy Zaltzman.
Warner's 38 is the most scored by a batsman in the first 6 overs of a Test match (since Cricinfo ball-by-ball records began in 2001)...
Since 2001, only Gayle (45, 4th inns v NZ, Trinidad 2014) & Sehwag (42, 4th inns v E, Chennai 2008-09) have more in overs 1-6 of Test inns
Warner avoids the fate of Sehwag, left 99 not out at lunch on day 1 v WI in St Lucia in 2006 (only 25 overs in session). Tidy performance.
2.02am GMT
Bull Power @davidwarner31
What a Class..
So Ruthless and brutal #AUSvPAK #pinktest
2.01am GMT
Where to from here for David Warner?
A triple-century by the end of the day? You couldn’t put it past him if he hangs around. Personally I hope he gathers himself and resets the clock on this innings. There genuinely is a big score for the taking. Speaking of which, another great left-hander in the shape of Brian Lara is currently on TV talking about his superlative knock of 277 at this ground in 1993. An omen? Lara named his daughter Sydney in honour of the knock.
1.56am GMT
More Renshaw love
One of the best individual sessions of batting you'll see. Secure, chanceless and thrilling to watch. Matt Renshaw, take a bow #AUSvPAK
1.55am GMT
The forgotten man
...is most certainly Warner’s opening partner Matt Renshaw, who made solid progress in that session. An entire nation, meanwhile, just wanted him off strike. All things considered it’s a positive sign for Australia that he didn’t attempt to keep up with his colleague. Proper Test batting, that.
25 (84). Openers dream. Not anymore.
1.53am GMT
The second earliest hundred ever? Sure.
A few people have made a decent point in the last ten minutes; when Bradman made his, he had to wait a few overs as he was batting at No3. But...Warner didn’t have as long to do it with regards to the number of overs bowled. Maybe it was fatigue from chasing leather, but we saw a tardy over rate this morning from Pakistan. Probably wise on their behalf.
Earliest 100 in 1st innings of Tests since 2001:
Sehwag, 25.3 overs
Warner, 26.2 (today)
Warner, 30.2
Sehwag, 30.5
Sehwag, 33.5
Sehwag, 34.2
1.49am GMT
Hundreds before lunch on 1st day of Test. Only Warner has done it in Australia pic.twitter.com/izY6fxBNXm
1.47am GMT
Records! Records! Get yer records!
Hello all. Russell Jackson here, still reeling slightly from the sight of that David Warner century before lunch, which puts him alongside the likes of Charlie McCartney, Victor Trumper, Sir Donald Bradman and Majid Khan. The latter was the last to do it, 41 years ago now.
1.36am GMT
What a session for Australia and David Warner. It may be a dead rubber but that does not take the gloss away from one of the all-time great performances.
Warner benefitted from Steve Smith winning the toss, Pakistan bowling poor early on and Misbah retreating painfully quickly, but what he displayed in the first two hours of play was breathtaking. Particularly destructive through the off side, Warner excelled off front foot and back, only once offering anything resembling a chance but that to a long-vacant cordon.
1.31am GMT
27th over: Australia 126-0 (Renshaw 25, Warner 100)
Wahab drops short first ball and Warner pulls to long-on. There’s three in it, but the canny opener settles for two to retain the strike. The field spreads. Warner guides one to third-man - and there’s a misfield - two becomes three and Warner completes a memorable, chanceless, scintillating century. What a gift he is to Test cricket.
1.25am GMT
26th over: Australia 117-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 95)
Warner’s content to do this in singles, nudging Amir’s first ball for one. Now, can Renshaw (who’s faced more balls than Warner) do his bit and return strike to his opening partner?
1.21am GMT
25th over: Australia 116-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 94)
Warner’s going to canter to this ton. Short and wide from Wahab and Warner gives it the treatment. An idiom that’s always interested me, as treatment usually refers to something medically remedial, not the merciless walloping of something with a lump of wood.
No Australian ground has seen a Test 100 before lunch on any day of the game. #AusvPak
1.16am GMT
24th over: Australia 111-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 89)
Amir’s return makes it a double change for Pakistan and Warner turns to ODI mode, clipping a hard run two followed by a nifty single. Renshaw can’t come to the party though, failing to rotate the strike, or the scoreboard.
1.12am GMT
23rd over: Australia 108-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 86)
Wahab has the comparatively parsimonious figures of 0/8 from his four overs as he begins a new spell to Renshaw. A succession of dot balls, six in total, halts Warner’s charge to an opening session century.
Third consecutive century opening stand for Australia in New Year Tests at SCG. They had stands of 200 v Ind in 2015 and 100 v WI in 2016.
1.08am GMT
22nd over: Australia 108-0 (Renshaw 21, Warner 86)
Yasir continues around the wicket and both batsmen milk singles at will. Warner decides ones are small potatoes and cuts hard for a four instead, like a fly fisherman casting a line in a fast moving river.
.@JPHowcroft … still part of North Yorkshire “for ceremonial purposes”. So, take your pick and wait for everyone to disagree.
1.05am GMT
21st over: Australia 100-0 (Renshaw 19, Warner 80)
Renshaw has struggled to get Warner on strike in recent overs, slowing his partner’s quest for an opening session ton. Imran’s decent line and length has also applied the breaks somewhat. A rare loose delivery falls Renshaw’s way as he carts a leg-stump half-volley to the midwicket boundary. That’s 100 up for the hosts.
1.00am GMT
20th over: Australia 94-0 (Renshaw 14, Warner 79)
Yasir around the wicket now and both batsmen work singles with the spin.
12.57am GMT
19th over: Australia 92-0 (Renshaw 13, Warner 78)
Imran Khan moves around the wicket and it becalms Warner somewhat. Over the wicket he continues to frustrate Renshaw.
12.53am GMT
18th over: Australia 90-0 (Renshaw 12, Warner 77)
Another four to Warner, and it’s a classical front-foot drive through extra-cover off Yasir. He stepped out to the pitch of the ball and controlled it through the gap. A first session century is his for the taking, especially if Renshaw continues ot rotate the strike as adeptly as he is.
12.49am GMT
17th over: Australia 84-0 (Renshaw 11, Warner 72)
Smoked! Imran pitches up the first delivery of the 17th over and Warner drills it through extra cover with the insouciance of a fine artist dancing his brush over canvas to create those little white caps on a seascape. Maybe, I’ve not slept much (see 10.18).
12.44am GMT
16th over: Australia 79-0 (Renshaw 11, Warner 67)
Yasir bowling with more flight than we’ve seen all summer so far but there’s not a lot happening off the pitch and both left-handers are able to safely work with the spin from the crease.
12.41am GMT
15th over: Australia 77-0 (Renshaw 10, Warner 66)
Imran Khan returns to the attack and his first delivery since drinks almost buys a wicket. Warner flashed hard outside his off stump and a genuine edge flies through the vacant third/fourth slip region and away to the third-man boundary. Chastened, Warner plays out the next four deliveries with greater care, running out of patience and slapping the sixth ball disdainfully to the midwicket fence like a victorious tennis player offering the crowd a souvenir.
12.35am GMT
12.33am GMT
14th over: Australia 69-0 (Renshaw 10, Warner 58)
Wahab is concentrating on a short length for Warner but the opener is waiting and rocks back to uppercut over the slips for a one-bounce four. Magic batting.
Warner races to 51 in 56 mins. No batsman in the last 40 years (since Majid Khan) has scored 100 before lunch on day-one. Can Warner do it?
12.28am GMT
13th over: Australia 63-0 (Renshaw 9, Warner 53)
50 for Warner, from just 42 deliveries. It comes from an edge through the vacant cordon, but that’s one of a rare few shots that haven’t found the middle of the Kaboom. This has been a vintage performance from one of cricket’s great entertainers.
12.24am GMT
12th over: Australia 58-0 (Renshaw 8, Warner 49)
Wahab is doing a decent job tying Renshaw down but the youngster acknowledges the need to rotate the strike and dabs a tip and run to return Warner to strike. With the crowd preparing to celebrate Warner’s 50 Wahab drops short and concedes nothing.
12.20am GMT
11th over: Australia 57-0 (Renshaw 7, Warner 49)
Enter Yasir from the Paddington end, on the first surface of the tour that should favour the leggie. He begins over the wicket to Warner and the batsman is respectful, eventually nudging a single. Renshaw replies in kind to prevent Yasir from settling.
12.16am GMT
10th over: Australia 55-0 (Renshaw 6, Warner 48)
Wahab again has the pleasure of bowling to Renshaw and again his dry lines are respected by the Yorkshire-born Queenslander.
12.11am GMT
9th over: Australia 55-0 (Renshaw 6, Warner 48)
Returned to strike, Warner immediately responds with a four. Amir drops a fraction short and Warner does that from-the-crease pull he does with his front leg coming off the ground. A couple of balls later he picks a good line and length delivery that would have hit the off bail and carves it through point for four. This is fantasy batting.
12.07am GMT
8th over: Australia 47-0 (Renshaw 6, Warner 40)
Wahab Riaz comes into the attack and his ability to hit the deck hard and not search for swing like Amir or Imran stems the bleeding. It helps that he sends down most of his first over to Renshaw, of course.
There's more Malaysia-born players in Australia's XI than Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia-born players combined #AUSvPAK
12.03am GMT
7th over: Australia 46-0 (Renshaw 6, Warner 39)
Renshaw’s obviously playing second fiddle here but he cashes in on his first boundary ball, tucking Amir off his pads through midwicket. A better line and length follows but Australia are sprinting away with this first hour.
11.59pm GMT
6th over: Australia 40-0 (Renshaw 1, Warner 38)
Crunch! The first ball of Imran’s over is obliterated to the cover point boundary by Warner who is freeing his arms and throwing his hands through the ball like an over-competitive dad playing totem-tennis. Four more arrive later in the over with a half-hit controlled pull behind deep backward square. And another four! This time carved through cover from the crease with all the ease of a market gardener shelling peas.
11.53pm GMT
5th over: Australia 28-0 (Renshaw 1, Warner 26)
Warner motors along to 25 off 14 with a jauntily run two, prompting Amir to shorten his length, dry up the runs and pin Australia’s 2IC to the crease.
The great @jimmaxcricket back in the commentary box at the SCG. #AUSvPAK #abc730 pic.twitter.com/WR60pfmwB6
11.49pm GMT
4th over: Australia 25-0 (Renshaw 1, Warner 23)
Imran continuing from the Randwick end and he delivers the first sedate maiden of the day. Renshaw watches a succession of harmless deliveries angle across him through to the wicket-keeper, defending the odd one that’s straighter.
Is it too late for Imran Khan's parents to rename him? #AUSvPAK
11.45pm GMT
3rd over: Australia 25-0 (Renshaw 1, Warner 23)
Better from Amir this over, beating Warner’s outside edge with his first delivery, but he’s let down by his skipper who misfields horribly at mid-off, allowing a regulation drive through him and away for a freebie four. That was nightmarish from Misbah.
No gully... in Australia? #AUSvPAK
11.40pm GMT
2nd over: Australia 17-0 (Renshaw 1, Warner 15)
Imran Khan finds out the hard way that you can’t bowl short and wide to Warner. Consecutive fours are so similar it’s like there’s a glitch in the Matrix. A third seems preordained but it’s cut off on the rope for three.
Nathan Lyon equals Richie Benaud's 63 Tests. The only AUS spinner to have played more matches is Shane Warne (145) #AUSvPAK
11.35pm GMT
1st over: Australia 6-0 (Renshaw 1, Warner 4)
Amir gets the Test underway with a loosener on Renshaw’s pads and he works a single to fine leg to ease the nerves. Warner takes twice as long to get off the mark but quadruples Renshaw’s score in the process, a thick outside edge racing along the carpet to third-man through a vacant gully. Nothing happening in the air or off the pitch.
@JPHowcroft evening jonathan
I expect aus to win this test
Amazing effort to win boxing day test
India big challenge
11.28pm GMT
Anthem time out on the ground. It’s a picture perfect scene under blue skies with a strong southerly breeze keeping temperatures down in the early 20s. There is a very slim chance of a shower later on but nothing too worrying.
The camera lingers on Steve Smith in his 50th Test, one he begins averaging 60.63. In the blink of an eye the conversation around Smith has changed from questioning an awkward leg-spinning allrounder into one of lionising a batting great. How far can the Australian skipper go over the next 100 Tests or so he presumably still has in his locker?
11.21pm GMT
The Sydney Test is now an annual fundraising effort for the McGrath Foundation with plenty of pink splashed around the venerable old ground. Even Kookaburra have come to the party.
Here's @glennmcgrath11 with the @KookaburraCkt match ball specially made with the @McGrathFdn logo. #AUSvPAK #PinkTest pic.twitter.com/Xegm3bYnqf
11.18pm GMT
Apologies in advance if there are more typos than usual today. The one-year old decided he only wanted to sleep until 2.30am this morning. At about 4.30 he was cajoled back into his cot but just as my head returned to the pillow an unfamiliar sound caught my ear... I’d forgotten to put the dog out.
‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ I thought, ‘he’s been in this long, he’ll be fine’. Needless to say the worst had happened, so as the clock ticked past 5am I was on my hands and knees scrubbing carpet. Ah well.
11.14pm GMT
The pitch health graphic reveals a disparity between ends. Spin should arrive much sooner for bowlers from the Paddington End.
Day One. #AUSvPAK | https://t.co/IXovTqhuAo pic.twitter.com/3PZsZGW78A
11.12pm GMT
A memorable moment for Hilton Cartwright, fittingly facilitated by another tall batting allrounder from the west.
Tom Moody presents Hilton Cartwright with his Baggy Green, No.450 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/b5vzmX6Esn
11.11pm GMT
Australia, as mentioned, make two changes with Cartwright and O’Keefe coming in for Maddinson and Bird.
Warner, Renshaw, Khawaja, Smith (c), Handscomb, Cartwright, Wade, Starc, O’Keefe, Hazlewood, Lyon.
11.07pm GMT
While rain wreaked havoc in Melbourne, the SCG’s curators were working overtime to prepare a familiar five-day surface.
This via AAP:
For the second year in a row, curator Tom Parker finds himself looking overhead almost as much as underfoot ahead of the SCG Test. Rain is predicted on all five days of the dead rubber between Australia and Pakistan.
Wet weather ruined the corresponding fixture last year, with no play possible on days three and four of the drawn Test between Australia and the West Indies. Showers are again forecast but they aren’t expected to be nearly as severe or persistent.
11.06pm GMT
Daphne Benaud helps with the toss, which uses a coin featuring the image of her late husband Richie. It comes up Australia’s way and Steve Smith gleefully accepts the opportunity take first dig on a pitch expected to turn.
11.02pm GMT
Preamble:
Good morning everybody and thanks for joining me for the opening day of the final Test of what’s been a liquorice allsorts of a summer. Plenty of questions have been asked along the way, some answers have been found, and the Australian selectors clearly have further problem solving on their mind in Sydney.