David Warner ignites in the Ashes after quiet start to 2017/18 series

For a man who described the Ashes as a "war" and said Australia would "work up some hatred" for England, David Warner had been pretty quiet throughout this winter's series.

There had been barely a peep out of him chat-wise; no dramatic run-out dismissals while fielding, and his form with the bat had been moderate, with a series average of 49 swelled by his unbeaten 87 from 119 balls as Australia coasted to victory in the opening Test in Brisbane by 10 wickets.

Even that knock was overshadowed by Cameron Bancroft, who followed a maiden Test fifty on debut by lighting up the post-match press conference with his account of what really transpired between him and Jonny Bairstow in that Perth bar at the start of England's tour - a lot less than what transpired between Warner and Joe Root in a Birmingham nightclub in 2013, as it turns out - with Bancroft's line about possessing a "heavy head" proving particularly chuckle worthy. Steve Smith couldn't contain himself.

Warner spoke about "backing my strengths, playing my game and batting my way" ahead of the MCG Test, having scored 47 and 14 in the day-nighter in Adelaide and 22 in Australia's sole knock in Perth. He sensed a big one was around the corner. He was not wrong - even though there was THAT scare on 99...

Mike Selvey tweeted "got a bad feeling about Warner this morning". As early as the fourth ball of the fourth over, the left-hander, who struck a century in his last Test in Melbourne, against Pakistan, showed his intent in his ultimately successful pursuit of another ton when he hammered a perfectly adequate delivery from Stuart Broad to the long-off fence.

James Anderson suffered a similar fate an over later but it was after the drinks break that Warner really upped the ante - Anderson, debutant Tom Curran and Chris Woakes all pinged to the boundary - he hit 13 fours - before Moeen Ali was deposited over it as the Australia vice-captain nailed his century stand with Bancroft in the over before lunch. Bancroft contributing 19 to Warner's 83.

This was not the Warner restricted by defensive fields, as he had been for much of the time in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, but a more dominating presence, with fleet footwork mixed with brutal blows. He was finally making some noise.

The noise would have been off the charts had, having reached 83 with three balls of the session remaining against an out-of-sorts Ali, Warner been able to wallop each delivery into the crowd and match his exploits of a year ago when he cracked a hundred before lunch against Pakistan, becoming the fifth man to do so on day one of a Test match.

Alas he did not, with three dot balls following, and he would not have made a century at all had Curran kept his foot behind the line in an otherwise fine start to Test cricket for the Surrey seamer. Warner reprieved one shy of his century after spooning Broad to mid-on with an edged pull.

"I was disappointed with the way that I played that shot. I was quite annoyed, yeah," Warner said at stumps. "Then getting recalled was fantastic, it was a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions. Live by the sword, die by the sword. I score all my runs there, I'm not going to change it."

If Curran's delight - albeit short-lived - at "dismissing" Warner, was raucous, Warner's next ball was ear-splitting as he clipped into leg, leapt in the air and roared vehemently at completing a 21st Test century - having become slightly stifled in the nineties. The ton moving him joint-10th on the all-time list for Australia.

The return of the more boisterous Warner was evident during that gripping period of play as he exchanged words with Curran and chirped at other opposition players. "It's just one of those things. The bowler is obviously going to be annoyed at over-stepping.

"He muttered something and I just didn't let it go! I obviously have to bite back as I normally do but that's always going to happen in a game of cricket. If he comes out to bat I might start going!" The Reverend has lost none of his spark - with bat or tongue.

From Australia’s point of view, things keep getting better and better. Their senior players are really stepping up, especially now Warner has come good. The England bowlers have generally kept him quiet in this series with a number of good plans, but he fired in Melbourne.

Warner's swashbuckling century set up Australia's day and after England battled back in the middle session - shipping just 43 runs and seeing Anderson dismiss Warner - it was a serene half-century from Smith that has given them cause for concern. "Smith is looking ominous, England have to get him early," said Michael Atherton.

Smith has gone big in this series, with 141 not out at the Gabba and 239 at the WACA, and he goes big in Melbourne, amassing 434 runs since he was last dismissed at the venue in Tests, by India's Umesh Yadav in 2014, after ending unbeaten on 65 and helping Australia to 244-3.

Now there's a man it's almost impossible to keep quiet.