Australia declare at 559-9 against New Zealand

After Khawaja had taken a single off Boult’s first ball, Warner drilled the second back over Boult’s head for four, and took two more fours off the over to make it count 16 in all.

Kane Williamson has his 12th test hundred, Ross Taylor is closing in on his 13th and New Zealand have had their best session of the test series against Australia at the Waca today.

Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc trapped Martin Guptill lbw for one in the third over of New Zealand’s innings.

Then, opener Tom Latham (36) and Williamson battled Australia’s pace attack over two hours in a 81-run second wicket stand before offspinner Nathan Lyon ended the partnership when the Latham edged a low catch to skipper Steve Smith at slip.

Fans arrive for day one of the second test match at the WACA in Perth.

Warner, having plundered a career-high 253, said an unexpected sluggish pitch could make it hard for Australia’s quicks to find a breakthrough.

Boult nicked out Adam Voges for 41, before Doug Bracewell had the all rounder Mitchell Marsh caught and bowled for 31.

“Also it helps when you’ve got your wife who’s seven months pregnant now, and (with) her not being able to have alcohol, it’s more about achieving a goal for myself to see if I can actually go her full term with not having alcohol. We talked about making them hit our good balls rather than giving them the release we were yesterday”.

Given the form Warner is in and the rate he scores at, Khawaja thinks West Indies legend Lara’s mark of 400 ” set against England in 2004 ” could be in danger on day two of the second Test.

Before this Test, Brendon McCullum admitted it was possible that even with improvement, New Zealand may still be beaten by a dominant Australia at the WACA Ground.

He clutched at his left hamstring and cut a disconsolate figure as he limped from the field and was replaced by a local substitute fielder for the remainder of the day.

It isn’t Khawaja’s first hamstring problem since his return from a knee reconstruction surgery earlier this year.

Speaking about his injury, team-mate David Warner said: “My fingers are crossed that he can try and recover in the next 10 to 15 days”.