Phil Hughes and David Warner have thrown away centuries, but not before putting Australia in a commanding position by tea on day two of the Sydney Test against Sri Lanka.
The pair, who put on 130 for the second wicket, batted without fault in bringing up half centuries by lunch – before both were dismissed within sight of their fourth Test centuries.
Their sparkling knocks did move Australia to within 53 of Sri Lanka’s first innings total of 294, reaching tea at 3-241.
Warner (85 off 84 balls) fell first, chasing a well-flighted ball from Tillakaratne Dilshan which he skied to Dhammika Prasad behind mid-on.
Hughes (87) followed seven overs later, caught behind cutting Rangana Herath.
Hughes’ dismissal brought to the crease Michael Hussey who, in his final Test match, walked out to a standing ovation from the crowd and a guard of honour from the Sri Lankan team.
Along with captain Michael Clarke (42no), Hussey (18no) has added 46 for the fourth wicket in the lead-up to tea.
Both Hughes and Warner chastised themselves as they trudged off the SCG, Warner punching his bat and Hughes simply contemplating the great chance at redemption he’d missed out on.
The 24-year-old left NSW in the off-season, joining South Australia, as he embarked on a quest to rebuild the unorthodox batting style that led to him being dropped from the Test team just over 12 months ago.
His revamped action was on display to all as he not only played to his strengths, plundering countless boundaries through the gully region, but also utilised the on side by hooking short balls to the boundary.
And so it was a memorable return to the SCG but disappointingly 13 runs short of his maiden Test century on Australian soil.
Warner’s dashing innings helped him pass some of Australia’s finest cricketers in the race to 1000 Test runs, including champion batsmen Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke.
Rocking on to his heels, Warner smashed a cut shot just wide of point, one of his 10 boundaries, to join the mark in just his 25th innings.
For some perspective, that’s faster than Clarke (26 innings), Australia’s two greatest batsman after Don Bradman – Chappell (26) and Ponting (27) – and power-hitting pair Adam Gilchrist (26) and Matt Hayden (27).
Clarke, in his first Test appearance at the SCG since the majestic 329 against India sparked his record-breaking 1595-run 2012, appeared to lose none of his powers in the change of year.
He marched to 42 by tea, including a pair of lofted drives off Herath just before the break which earned him 10 runs.
Herath provided one of the few bright spots for the visitor’s pop-gun bowling attack, taking 1-48 in his 14 overs in the middle session.
Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker in 2012, Herath gained considerable turn off a helpful pitch – suggesting he will be a handful bowling last on the fourth or fifth day.
