DAVID Warner’s Manuka masterclass not only flayed the New Zealand attack to all parts of the expansive venue, but also set a new Australian record for the most one-day international

centuries in a calendar year.
Warner’s innings in Canberra was his sixth one-day ton in 2016, continuing a remarkable run of form that has been bettered by just two men.

India’s Little Master, the great Sachin Tendulkar, hit an incredible nine ODI centuries from 34 matches in 1998, while Sourav Ganguly’s seven centuries in 2000 came from 32 matches.
Warner, now with six, sits joint third on the all-time list, in just his 22nd match this year.
Other men to post six ODI centuries in a calendar year are South Africa’s Gary Kirsten and Tendulkar again, both in 1996, and Rahul Dravid in 1999.

Warner’s century from 101 balls, reached with a punch to mid-off in the 32nd over in Canberra, took him above Australia’s all-time leading run-scorer Ricky Ponting, and Matthew Hayden, who each scored five ODI tons in a calendar year.
Ponting and Hayden both hit five ODI tons in 2007 as Australia steamrollered to a third successive World Cup crown. Ponting also achieved the feat in 2003 – another World Cup year.

The run glut continues an impressive dominance of the 50-over game for Warner in recent times.
“I think earlier in my career in the one-day form, I probably went too hard,” Warner said in June this year.
“And now I’ve worked out in the back of my mind how to actually play this game a lot better.
“We all talk about having back-to-back games playing with the white ball or the red ball, you get into a rhythm.

“I played the World Cup (ICC World T20), then the IPL and now playing a longer form, I feel like I’ve got an eternity now when you go from 20 overs to 50 overs.
“You just feel so much more relaxed and there’s not that pressure to go after the ball as much.”
Not only has he set a new Australian record, Warner could well have been eyeing off Tendulkar’s mark: the powerful left-hander was dismissed twice in the 90s this year.
Warner scored 93 against India at this venue last January, and 98 against this opposition in Wellington in February.

Warner’s ODI centuries in 2016
122 (113 balls) v India, SCG, January 23
109 (120) v South Africa, St Kitts, June 11
106 (126) v Sri Lanka, Pallekele, September 4
117 (107) v South Africa, Durban, October 5
173 (136) v South Africa, Cape Town, October 12
119 (115) v New Zealand, Canberra, December 6