Cricket: World record test score a possibility

David Warner of Australia celebrates after reaching his century. Photo / Getty Images

Usman Khawaja is backing David Warner to give the world record individual test score a real shake at the Waca tomorrow.

Warner will start day two against New Zealand on 244, his highest test score, and 157 away from eclipsing Brian Lara's world best mark of 400 not out, against England in Antigua in 2004.

Australia will start at 416 for two.

Warner's score is the highest in a single day in a test in Australia, beating the previous mark of 224 by Michael Clarke against South Africa at Adelaide three years ago.

There are just six instances of a batsman making more in a day in test history, a list headed by the legendary Don Bradman's 309 against England at Leeds in 1930.

''I hope so," Khawaja, a childhood batting mate of Warner's, said of the prospects of a world record.

''I think Davey will be thinking 250 first, then 300. But if anyone can do it, it's probably him.

''But at the end of the day we have to see how the game is going. We'll always be team fist. But if anyone can get 150 in not much time it's Davey."

Lefthanders Warner and Khawaja put on 302 for the second wicket - Khawaja hitting 121 - a record for Australia on the Waca, and easily overtaking the previous second wicket record against New Zealand, the 235 of Michael Slater and David Boon at Hobart in 1993.

New Zealand bowling coach Dimitri Mascarehas was disappointed in the bowlers' performance in gruelling conditions against high calibre batting.

''It was a tough day. Doesn't get much tougher than that.

''We weren't where want to be, we know that. But they played some pretty special innings out there."

By Mascarenhas estimation, New Zealand's bowlers were ''pretty poor" for 85 percent of the day. He said New Zealand had not expected significant pace and bounce from the pitch, based on checking recent statistics of matches at the Waca.

''Coming into it pretty much knowing it's going to be a high scoring game."