David Warner has made a blistering start to the first Test against India, lashing six boundaries in the opening three overs.

Warner raced to 32 off 15 balls at Adelaide Oval, at one stage putting him on pace to match the fastest half-century.

However, India veteran Ishant Sharma was introduced in the sixth over, keeping it tight and forcing Warner to adopt a more defensive approach.

Sharma ensured Warner wouldn’t better Misbah-ul-Haq’s fifty, which came off an astonishing 21 balls against Australia in the UAE earlier this year.

Chris Rogers’ dismissal for nine further curbed Warner’s momentum, but when drinks were taken after 11 overs Australia were still an impressive 1-64.

The question on everyone’s lips at Adelaide Oval when Mohammed Shami took the new ball was how Australia would fare in their first session following the shock death of Phillip Hughes.

Warner delivered a prompt and definitive answer, as Shami and Varun Aaron fluffed their lines early.

Shami and Aaron, both playing their first Test against Australia, started around the wicket and gave the left-hander too much width.

Other openers may have been happy to shoulder arms, but Warner embraced his ‘see ball, hit ball’ mantra with a handful of well-timed cover drives.

“There’s been some poor bowling. David Warner has been outstanding, he’s lit up Adelaide Oval already,” Shane Warne said while calling the game for the Nine Network.

Aaron’s opening spell lasted two overs, costing 23 runs.

FASTEST TEST HALF-CENTURIES:

*21 balls, Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) v Australia in Abu Dhabi 2014

*24 balls, Jacques Kallis (South Africa) v Zimbabwe in Cape Town 2005

*25 balls, Shane Shillingford (West Indies) v New Zealand in Kingston 2014