Ashes 4th Test: Warner and Smith put hosts in command
Australia ended the opening day of Boxing Day Test at the MCG on 244-3 with David Warner and Steven Smith scoring big for the side. Having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Ashes, the hosts will target a whitewash while Joe Root's men will look to go home with a respectable away loss. Here are the highlights of Day 1, 4th Test.
David Warner's century
Steven Smith won the toss and opted to bat first on a flat MCG pitch. It was another tough day for the English team as David Warner scored his 21st test century adding to England's misery. He also reached the 6000-run milestone in tests, becoming the fourth fastest Aussie to achieve it alongside Greg Chappell who too did so in 129 innings.
Most of Warner's centuries are at home
Of his 21 test hundreds, Warner has scored 15 of them at home. This is his third ton against England and a second and consecutive 100 at the MCG.
There is no stopping Steven Smith
Steven Smith was 65 unbeaten at the end of Day 1. The number 1 test batsman showed no signs of stopping as he scored his 22nd test half-century. It is his 18th half-ton in the first innings of a test, having converted 14 of the last 17 into centuries. Interestingly, Smith hasn't been dismissed at MCG since 29 Dec 2014 (i.e. since 624 balls).
100 Ashes wickets for James Anderson
England's James Anderson picked up his 100th Ashes wicket today. He joins seven other Englishmen to achieve this. Ian Botham leads the list with 128 Ashes wickets from 32 Ashes Tests.
