Aussies take firm grip after Warner ton

BRISBANE: David Warner backed up his feisty words with runs as he hit his 13th Test century and Usman Khawaja claimed his maiden ton as Australia took an iron grip on day one of the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday.

The outspoken Warner, who had derided the Kiwis as “Mr. Nice Guys” and vowed an aggressive approach, lived up to his promise with his secondhighest Test score against an underwhelming New Zealand attack at the Gabba.

With Warner plundering 163 runs off 224 balls, the Australians pounded the ragged Black Caps to go to stumps at 389 for two -their highest first-day score at the Brisbane ground.

Khawaja also cashed in, reaching his first Test century just before the close and finishing the day unbeaten on 102 with skipper Steve Smith not out on 41.

Along the way Smith raised 1,000 Test runs in the calendar year as Australia eased doubts about their new-look side after a host of retirements at the start of the three-match series.

Warner was finally out to one of his few false strokes of the day, but it took Ross Taylor’s marvellous one-handed catch above his head at slip to snare the prized wicket off James Neesham.

Only four Australian openers — Matt Hayden (30), Mark Taylor (19), Justin Langer (16) and Michael Slater (14) — have amassed more Test centuries than Warner’s 13.

Warner shared in two mammoth stands with Joe Burns (161) and Khawaja (150) to have the Australians in full flow at a ground where they have not lost a Test match since 1988.