Pakistan were left to rue a basic error from 16-year-old debutant Naseem Shah as Australia opener David Warner plundered the visitors’ attack with a brilliant 151 not out on the second day of the first Test at the Gabba on Friday.
Australia finished the day on 312 for the loss of just one wicket, 72 runs ahead of Pakistan’s first innings total of 240 and already in the driving seat.
Marnus Labuschagne was alongside Warner on 55, with the only wicket to fall that of Joe Burns, who made 97 before sweeping a Yasir Shah (1-101) delivery onto his stumps.
Warner scored his first Test century since a year-long ban for ball-tampering, but only after a huge let-off when he was caught behind off a Naseem no-ball.
The mercurial opener was on 56 at the time, and he then survived a near run-out on 93 before ending a century drought stretching back nearly two years.
“For me it’s about going out there and backing my ability,” he said, insisting he never felt any pressure about his place in the side.
“At the end of the day you get selected or you don’t get selected and you’ve just got to accept that.”
Earlier, Naseem looked impressive on debut and regularly bowled at over 145 kilometres (90 miles) per hour, but he was guilty of overstepping the mark on a number of occasions, despite not being called by the umpire.
He looked like he belonged on the big stage with a number of bristling spells before leaving the field late in the day with an apparent leg injury.
“He won’t get a harder Test debut, bowling at the Gabba,” Warner said.
“He kept his speed up the whole day — he charged in all day, there’s a (future) superstar there.”