David Warner entered the record books in Brisbane and there is little doubt there is still much more to come.
His knocks of 163 and 116 put him in rarefied air.
It is the third time he has posted twin centuries in the one Test, equalling the all-time record held by Sunil Gavaskar and Ricky Ponting.
Gavaskar achieved the last of his twin tons in his 43rd Test while Ponting did it in his 102nd.
Warner has now played 44 Tests and played 83 innings, compiling 3928 runs at 49.1. In those 83 innings he has made 14 centuries.
Over the same period Ponting and Sachin Tendulkar had made 12, Brian Lara 10, Rahul Dravid 9, and Jacques Kallis and Kumar Sangakkara eight.
When compared to those players, who each scored at least 34 career centuries, it is clear that what Warner has done to date is remarkable.
It is well worth remembering how it all started for him.
Warner burst onto the international scene in January 2009 as a Twenty20 specialist. His debut at the MCG against South Africa was historic as he was the first player to represent Australia prior to playing a first-class match.
He celebrated the feat by smashing an audacious 89 off a mere 43 deliveries, pummelling an attack that boasted Kallis, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel. It was a great innings, but one that further pigeon-holed him as a pyjama batsman.
Two months after his MCG heroics he broke into the New South Wales Sheffield Shield team for the last game of the 2008-09 season. He batted just the once – at number six – and made 42 off 48 deliveries.
Twenty months later and with just 11 games of first-class cricket behind him Warner made his Test debut at the Gabba against New Zealand, scoring three in the first innings and hitting the winning runs in the second to remain 12 not out.
His introduction to the Test side was met with derision by some fans who believed he lacked the requisite experience and technique to succeed in the longest form of the game.
He soon had them rethinking in his next Test at Hobart with a superb unbeaten 123 in the fourth innings on a testing pitch. Australia lost by nine wickets with New Zealand posting its first win in Australia in 26 years.
For Warner, in an individual sense, it was a moment of triumph as he became the third Australian to carry his bat in a Test innings in the previous 25 years.
Throughout his career Warner has courted his fair share of controversy both on and off the field, most infamously his late night altercation with English batsman Joe Root on the 2013 Ashes tour.
Now, however, with the retirements of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Brad Haddin he has become one of the most senior players in the Test side – he has played 10 more Tests than his new skipper, Steve Smith.
The mass exodus has seen him promoted to the vice-captaincy.
If Brisbane is any indication the added responsibility has sat well with him. In concert with the recalled Joe Burns – playing his third Test – the pair seized the initiative on the opening day and laid the foundation for what should be, weather permitting, a comfortable win later today.
There is simply no doubting Warner’s abilities.
Over time he has gone from a rampant full-throttle attacker to a batsman who is far more judicious in his shot selection. He now reads the situation of the game and adjusts his approach accordingly.
Even though his century in the first innings seemed reasonably sedate given some of his earlier heroics, he still reached three figures off 141 balls.
In the second innings, when the team and the match situation required it, he lowered his foot on the accelerator and climbed into the Black Caps’ injury-riddled attack, scoring his 116 from 113 balls.
Warner turned 29 a fortnight ago, and judging by what we have seen in Australia in recent times, he is entering what should be the prime of his career. In this era of shortened boundaries and tree trunks for bats he will continue to terrorise opposition attacks.
By dint of sheer numbers, Matthew Hayden is Australia’s most successful opening batsman. His career spanned 103 Tests in which he struck 30 centuries and amassed 8625 runs at 50.7, and he sits fifth on the all-time Australian run-list.
Warner is well on the way to eclipsing Hayden’s record.
Yes, there is a lot of water to still flow under the bridge, but one thing we can be guaranteed is there are still plenty of runs to flow from the blade of David Warner.
reddy
Guest
Am I correct?? Do Asian batsman play more test outside asia than batsman from aus eng saf nz in Asia. Warner only 6 tests in Asia out of 44. Virat 19 test of 38 were in aus eng saf.
Don Freo
Guest
He did ...in the last series. Funny, that.
Don Freo
Guest
If the lack of capitals for your name is an indication, there is room for you to improve as well. Pathetic, Eric. Davy's a cricketer. Do you want him to win a Tony Award as well?
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice piece Glenn, Warner has elevated his game the last couple of years. This has coincided with him settling down and becoming a family man. He has the makings of a great if he stays on this course. He is a terrific batsmen.
Bfc
Guest
"Great" is a superlative that is perhaps used too readily...but if Warner maintains his production over the next few years then his place in the pantheon of fabulous batsmen is assured....even if in this instance the opposing bowling attack was kind of anemic...His numbers are impressive none the less. As far as the young Kiwi (Williamson) goes...what fabulous technique and temperament. Built an impressive score against a very good pace attack, while wickets fell all round him. An amazing talent. Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja? After a couple of 'false starts'...great to see them succeed on their 'home' patch, and may they go on to become established Aussie Test players.
Wallaby thrasher
Guest
He won't do much on green seaming English pitches. never has. Never will.
Brett McKay
Expert
Haha, not to worry Glenn, there were a large portion of commenters that day in 2012 who admitted to saying or thinking the same thing..
Brett McKay
Expert
10 of 14 now Gav. (3 x BRI, 3 x ADE, 2 x PER, 1 SYD 1 HOB) His four tons OS came at Centurion, in Dubai v PAK, and twin tons in Cape Town in 2014. And Bryan, his 1st/2nd Inns split is seven apiece. But of his seven 2nd Inns tons, five of them are in Australia..
Hayley
Guest
He also has 4 years on Williamson. Where Australia has depth and the ability to drop players out of the team for less then awesome performances, NZ cant. Thats why Williamsons stats aren't fantastic. Slow start. However recently he has scored the most runs over all three formats internationally. Yes Warner deserves his accolades, but id rather have Williamson on my team.
gav
Guest
Bryan, 9/13 centuries are at home.
gav
Guest
Greatness is a term that gets thrown around a fair bit Glenn. But he might be a great opening batsmen of his era. Only concern is 12/13 hundreds are in Aus n SAF where the ball bounces and suit his style of play. No hundreds in England, didnt make one in WI, just one in Asia. His best hundred is still his first one.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Who'd have thought that we'd be having this discussion when he made his T20 debut for Australia all those years ago. He threatened to leave NSW if he didn't get a game. Clearly he had more faith in his technique than many others. I think many of us underestimated his ability in the longer format. I hope he goes on to big numbers.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Brett, I won't tell anyone else about that last sentence. I reckon if we keep quiet no one else will no about it ?
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Fingers crossed he continue his "better than last year" trend for the next 6 years. It's hard to see him not improving, especially considering he's never batted for an entire day in test cricket and still hasn't reached the elusive double. When (it's not an if, for me) he does this, I think we might be tagging the "est" suffix onto him being a great.
Joey Johns
Roar Guru
Apparently he's a bit better and he deserves an article - you're welcome to write it. If you're after some perspective, just read The Truth's reply.
Brett McKay
Expert
Yes indeed - record now reads 3928 runs at 49.1!
JohnB
Guest
Until this game Gavasker was the only batsman ever to have scored twin hundreds 3 times and to have carried his bat in a test innings (not in one of the games where he got twin hundreds) - Warner has matched that. So far as I can see, the only other batsmen ever who have both scored twin centuries (even once) and carried their bat (again, not necessarily in a test where they got twin hundreds) are Warren Bardsley, Glenn Turner, Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart, Gary Kirsten, Grant Flower and Rahul Dravid. Glenn Turner is actually unique here - he's the player ever to have got twin hundreds (which he did once) and to have batted through twice. You have to have been a pretty decent player to have batted through twice - the only other ones ever were Bill Woodfull, Len Hutton and Bill Lawry, and the only player ever to bat through 3 times was Desmond Haynes. None of Woodfull, Hutton, Lawry or Haynes ever managed twin hundreds. If Warner can manage to bat through again at some stage he'll really be in rarified company. Even if he never manages that, he already has a pretty decent claim to being great.
Playmaker
Guest
Only mention the chap because he is a contemporary and Oz is playing the Kiwis at the moment. Just a bit of perspective, mate.
bryan
Guest
I think the best comparison to him is Sehwag. I also like the fact most of his tons are in the 2nd innings and away from home. Needs to go talk to whoever Clarke did about long concentration periods. Starts to lose it after ~150 balls. If he can get that into order, he has the opportunity to be a Sehwag, don't give a flying damn what anyone else in the team does, he will win games off his own bat, and give the bowlers days to get the 20. Fielding is huge bonus too.
Vabz
Roar Rookie
"Out of his 14 centuries" **