Exhausted Warner retires on 200 in magical 100th test

MELBOURNE : Short of runs and under pressure, David Warner entered the Boxing Day test against South Africa issuing a reminder to the doubters never to underestimate the fight of a "housing commission boy" living the dream.

On Tuesday, on day two of his 100th test, the veteran Australia opener retired on 200 after tea in cramped-up exhaustion after tormenting the Proteas in a Melbourne Cricket Ground furnace, quashing all debate about his place in the side.

On the way to his third double-century Warner smashed his 25th hundred, and first in nearly three years, while becoming Australia's eighth player to notch 8,000 runs in tests.

Warner had edged towards his first hundred with unwavering focus but sealed it by throwing caution to the wind, pulling South Africa spearhead Kagiso Rabada to the fine leg fence to draw the crowd to their feet.

Five years on from scoring a century in his 100th one-day international against India in Bangalore, the 36-year-old ripped off his helmet and made his trademark leap into the steaming Melbourne air.

Warner has rarely held back after reaching a ton but there was added gusto in his celebrations as he blew kisses off his bat to his family and fans around the ground.

Hours later, baked in 37 degrees Celsius (99F) heat, Warner soaked up another standing ovation after hitting four off Lungi Ngidi to reach his second hundred, slumping to his knees and pumping his arms in the air with a roar.

Warner got to his feet to leap in the air again but failed to stick the landing and was left propping himself up with his bat on shaky legs.

DARKEST CHAPTER

It had hitherto been a forgettable home summer with the bat, clouded by off-field drama over his permanent leadership ban four years after the Newlands