David Warner and Michael Clarke produced an extraordinary burst of batting to put Australia in a dominant position against a badly-wounded South Africa on day one of the second Test.
In the 47 minutes following lunch, the dynamic duo smashed 100 runs in a rare batting masterclass at the Adelaide Oval – and both made brilliant centuries.
Warner was eventually out for 119 from 112 balls to Morne Morkel but Australia progressed to 4-280 at tea against a Proteas team without Vernon Philander and perhaps Jacques Kallis, who left the field hurt.
Under pressure to prove himself a capable Test opener leading into the match, Warner answered his critics by creaming 16 boundaries and four sixes.
Captain Clarke’s current form is in Bradman territory and he again played beautifully to race to 104 from 121 balls with 20 boundaries.
In 2012, Clarke has a 300, two 200s and now another ton.
So far in this series, he’s unbeaten on 363 runs in two innings.
In his past four Tests against South Africa, Clarke has three scores of more than 100.
The run rate has slowed from being greater than a run-a-ball, but Clarke shares the crease with another in-form batsman in Mike Hussey (34) and they’ve already combined for a 70-run partnership.
The all-NSW pairing of Clarke and Warner came together with Australia in trouble at 3-55.
Warner exited at 4-210, after he and his skipper had put on a scintillating 155 runs in 146 balls.
South Africa suffered two injury disasters on Thursday, starting with pace weapon Philander being ruled out before play with back soreness.
But the news became much worse when the world’s best allrounder Kallis limped from the field during the first session with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Kallis had just taken an inspiring 2-19 in 3.3 overs, which had turned the tables on Warner’s fast start.
Australia were reeling with Kallis claiming Ed Cowan (10) and Ricky Ponting (4) and, in between, Morkel sending Rob Quiney (0) back to the sheds all within a period of 15 balls.
But from the moment Kallis left for the dressing room, Warner and Clarke took it as a licence to turn up the heat on the depleted attack of the world’s No.1 team.
Dale Steyn (0-50) struggled, Morkel (2-81) was dangerous but expensive and rookie Rory Kleinveldt (0-48) is still to break through for his first Test wicket in his second match.
Spinner Imran Tahir (0-68) was torched, while the writing was on the wall for debutant Faf du Plessis (0-11 from one) from his first delivery, when Warner smashed him over the square leg boundary and the ball was lost in the construction site which dominates most of the oval.