Warner's double-century crushes NZ spirits

Australia 2 for 416 (Warner 244*, Khawaja 121) v New Zealand
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details

After his performance at the Gabba, it seemed impossible that David Warner could bat any better. But there it took him both innings to reach 200 runs. Here he managed the same feat in one innings. In one day. Another day of utter disheartenment for New Zealand, forced to bowl in hot conditions at the WACA. Another day of complete domination by Australia, who went to stumps at 2 for 416, with the series all but wrapped up.

That might be presumptuous only one day into the second of three Tests, but as the old cricket cliché goes, you need 20 wickets to win a Test. At this rate, New Zealand will struggle to take 20 in the series. So far in the Tests they have taken 10 for 1230 and Warner, who finished the day unbeaten on 244, has scored 42% of those runs himself. Apart from Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja, the rest of the batsmen have barely been needed.

Steven Smith might be in doubt for the Adelaide Test with a chronic case of pad-rash. He moved himself down to No.4 for this series but might as well have shifted to No.11 for all the work that has been left for him. Eventually he did get the chance to walk to the crease late on day one at the WACA, after a tiring Khawaja prodded a catch to cover off Doug Bracewell for 121, and Smith was 5 not out at stumps.

It was just the second wicket of a long, long day for New Zealand. Burns had chopped on before lunch when Matt Henry gained a bit of extra bounce. He made 40, but on a day like this it must have felt like a duck. Perhaps only the sweat on the brows of New Zealand's fast men flowed more freely than Australia's runs, which came at 4.62 per over. The only maiden of the day was the first over of the morning.

Again Trent Boult was the biggest disappointment for New Zealand, struggling to swing the ball, struggling to find the right length, and struggling to go for less than a run a ball. Of the fast men, Bracewell adapted best to the conditions and consistently hit the right lengths, but pressure never built on anyone but the New Zealanders themselves. At times Mark Craig bowled better than at the Gabba, but that said more of how poor he was in Brisbane than of him being threatening in Perth.

As the end of the day loomed, Brendon McCullum resorted to bowling himself as he waited for the second new ball to become available. Off a few steps, his slow-mediums were barely even dibbly, let alone dobbly. All it served to do was make it easier for Warner to reach his maiden Test double-hundred. That came with a single off Martin Guptill's offspin, and capped off a remarkable period for Warner, who has become the fourth fastest Australian to reach 4000 Test runs.

As well as being his first 200 in Tests it was his third consecutive century, and his hundred stand with Burns for the first wicket their third in a row since joining forces at the start of the Brisbane Test. The only other Australian opening pair to have achieved that feat was Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden. Warner could yet be eyeing off Hayden's Australian record score of 380, if Smith doesn't declare earlier.

Warner's wagon wheel showed few regions that were truly unpopulated, but some areas were heavier on the boundaries. His work through the off side was especially strong, driving through mid-off and cutting anything short and wide - of which there was plenty on a WACA surface offering bounce but not much seam movement. Perhaps most remarkably, by stumps only 100 of his runs had come in boundaries - he had run, and run, and run all day.

At the other end, Khawaja picked up where he left off in Brisbane, playing with freedom, confidence and class. That he more or less kept up with Warner's scoring tempo was an indication of his form; his second Test century came from 132 deliveries with a stylish late cut for four off Henry. Khawaja was especially strong through the third man region, using the pace off the fast men to his advantage.

Shortly before tea, Khawaja had top-edged a six to fine leg off Henry; Bracewell couldn't quite make the catch within the playing area, and spilled over the boundary. It was indicative of New Zealand's day: near on a few occasions, yet so, so far. Having wasted their first review early in the day, New Zealand lost their second to a much closer call when Warner was on 78 and was given not out when struck in front by Boult. It was a tight "umpire's call" on the top of the bails.

On 38, Khawaja edged Craig behind but was given not out by umpire Nigel Llong. The New Zealanders were keen but had no reviews, and Snicko confirmed Khawaja's edge. A similar edge had been dropped by BJ Watling earlier in Khawaja's innings. Also on 38, Khawaja survived an lbw shout from Southee, with the ball seeming to strike bat and pad together.

And that was it for New Zealand, the toss and a few half chances going against them. And in the end, they had barely half a chance of saving themselves in this Test and avoiding a 2-0 scoreline before the teams head to Adelaide for the day-night Test. Maybe they'll have more luck with the pink ball.