David Warner started the day six not out in his farewell Test after Pakistan put 313 runs on the board in their first innings, was given a second life when dropped on 20 – and then fell in the shadows of lunch.

The stage is set for an entertaining day of cricket as the Aussies look to eat away at the first-innings lead held by Pakistan.

Follow along for all the action here.

12.10PM: WICKET! WARNER GONE!

A wicket! David Warner Day comes to an early end, 20 minutes before lunch.

Salman gets the turn and bounce and squares Warner up, coming off the splice of the bat and flying to first slip where Babar Azam takes an excellent diving catch.

Warner’s innings comes to an end on 34.

Warner gets a standing ovation from the Sydney crowd, acknowledging his stature in the game – could that be the last time we see him bat in Test cricket? It’s unlikely, but it is possible.

11.50AM: ‘BAT AS LONG AS YOU CAN’ – RUNS FLOWING FOR AUSTRALIA

There’s a lot of talk – as there often is – about how dangerous the SCG pitch could be for the spin bowlers on both sides later in the Test.

But the way Usman Khawaja is batting suggests that spin is not the biggest factor, just yet.

He’s danced down the wicket to Sajid Khan a number of times in the one over, thumping him over long on for four to nudge towards a 50-run partnership between he and Warner.

Having navigated the trickier conditions in the first half hour, it looks like conditions will open up to be wonderful for batting today.

And as I type that, Warner punches out another two runs onto the onside to bring up the 50-run opening stand.

“I think it’s going to be a ‘bat as long as you can scenario’ for Australia,’ once this ball gets soft there’s not going to be a lot of bite in the pitch… the runs will come,” says Mark Waugh.

11.35AM: ROUGH START FOR PAKISTAN

It’s drinks on in the first session on day two and it’s been a bit of the same old story for Pakistan.

A promising start from Australia’s openers could’ve been snuffed out by the simplest of catches, but instead the visitors entered the drinks break in a foul mood after Saim Ayub’s terrible drop off David Warner.

Australia are 0-39, with Warner on 21 and Khawaja 16 – but the retiring star should be back in the sheds.

Warner was dropped on 20 at first slip, a point which is sure to frustrate captain Shan Masood.

“We’ve done some really good work, put the ball in the right areas, created an opportunity which we didn’t grab and that’s been the story for us this series,” Masood told Fox Cricket.

“When you bowl well, you create opportunities, you need to grab onto your chances and unfortunately we’ve let go of another one.”

11.20AM: DROPPED! WARNER GETS A LIFE

Pakistan are playing their role on David Warner day, with debutant Saim Ayub spilling the simplest of chances at first slip.

With Warner on 20, he edged Aamir Jamal to first slip where Ayub made a mess of the catch that would’ve silenced the partisan crowd at the SCG.

Instead, they groaned in unison as the shocking drop was replayed on the big screen.

“That’s as easy as it gets at first slip,” says Adam Gilchrist on Fox Cricket.

Australia are now 0-31… and how likely is that to cost Pakistan dearly?

“Quite possibly the worst feeling you can have on the cricket field,” adds Michael Hussey.

11.10AM: ‘PREDICTABLE’ AUSSIE TACTICS SAVAGED BY GREATS

Australia’s tail-ender tactics have come under fire, after they let Pakistan off the hook late on day one with a relentless short-ball barrage as Aamir Jamal record a career-best 82.

Pakistan were on the ropes at 9-227 before a final wicket partnership pushed them to a far more respectable total of 313.

Australia stuck with its preferred lower-order plan of attack, which revolves around short-pitched bowling, but a reluctance to change things up was savaged by Pakistan great Wasim Akram and Australia’s Michael Hussey.

“It rarely works, that tactic,” Hussey said.

“You see the field all go back and they’re just hoping that the tailender makes a mistake.

“They’d done pretty well by looking to pitch the ball up, attack the stumps against the top order batsmen. You wonder why they went away from that against the tail end.”

Akram was mystified at why Australia’s pace attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood didn’t deviate from a tactic that wasn’t working.

“They became too predictable,” he said.

“They have three of the most experienced fast bowlers in world cricket – 200 plus wickets, one has 300 plus wickets.

“They should’ve been a plan B. Have square leg back, have point fielder back and attack the stumps.

“Tell Jamal to hit me straight, and then you have a chance. And the odd bouncer, but not every second ball short.”

Further effects of the 10th wicket stand could be felt deep into the Test match Hussey said.

“They managed to score runs very quickly, but they also kept the Australian bowlers out there for longer – making them bowl one extra spell, two extra spells,” he said.

“Which might take its toll as this match wears on.”

10.55AM: CRICKET AUSTRALIA UPDATE ON MISSING BAGGY GREEN

– Lachie McKirdy

The search for David Warner’s backpack containing his two baggy greens continues as he bats on the second day of the SCG Test.

After the bag went missing in transit from Melbourne, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed on Thursday morning that all hands are on deck to try and locate the caps.

“We haven’t given up yet but we keep our fingers crossed,” Hockley said on SEN Test Cricket.

“It’s a great mystery. It hasn’t turned up yet. Lots of people have been working very hard trying to look under every rock.

“I implore if anyone knows anything to come forward. It is the thing every kid aspires to wear. I do want to thank everyone who has been working hard to locate it.”

Hockley also paid tribute to Warner’s legacy as he comes to the end of his Test career and predicted that the dynamic opener won’t be lost to cricket.

“I think [his legacy] is massive and he’ll continue to make an immense contribution,” Hockley said.

“It’s been a great moment and week to reflect on his entire career. I think Andrew McDonald said it, our greatest all-format player ever.

“To be plucked straight into international cricket without playing any first-class cricket shows the prodigious talent that he is. He’s as fit as he’s ever been and [this week has] been a great opportunity to celebrate everything he’s achieved.”

10.45AM: CLOUDS CLEAR ON BATTING PARADISE

It was muggy and overcast half an hour ago, just before the start of play on day two, and it looked a little bit ominous for Australia’s openers.

But strong winds have blown some of the cloud cover away – which should ease concerns for David Warner and Usman Khawaja about the potential hooping ball from Pakistan’s paceman.

Mir Hamza has started strongly on Thursday, hitting the right areas and giving Australia’s batsmen very little, though Hasan Ali has been a touch more wayward.

But it now looks like a tremendous day for batting, should this pair get through the first half hour.

“It could be a long day for Pakistan,” offers Mark Waugh on Fox Cricket.

10.30AM: THE PIGEON AND THE GOAT

– Ben Horne

Glenn McGrath presented Nathan Lyon with his 500th-wicket ball before play on Thursday as he welcomed the champion off-spinner into his exclusive club.

Lyon joined McGrath and Shane Warne as the only Australian bowlers to have taken more than 500 wickets when he reached the rare milestone at the end of the first Test in Perth.

McGrath finished his illustrious career with 563 Test wickets and is resigned to the fact Lyon – currently 506 wickets – will ultimately knock off his record.

The big question is whether Lyon, 36, will be able to battle on long enough to challenge Warne’s immortal mark of 708 Test wickets.

Also before play on Thursday, Usman Khawaja was awarded ABC radio’s prestigious Alan McGilvray medal for another outstanding year where he stood out as the premier batsman in world cricket.

Khawaja was the only international batsman to post more than 1000 runs in Test cricket in 2023.

All eyes are on how he will perform on day two of the Sydney Test as he resumes his innings alongside his childhood mate, David Warner – in what is Warner’s farewell Test.

10:15AM MASSIVE SESSION LOOMS FOR AUSTRALIA

It’s David Warner day at the SCG today – but the weather gods may not have got the memo.

Because it’s humid and a touch overcast in Sydney this morning, prime conditions to get the ball to swing. And, armed with a ball that is one over old, Pakistan’s quicks will be licking their lips.

There are still plenty of runs in this wicket, as evidenced by Pakistan’s wonderful rear-guard action in the third session on day one.

And, according to Australian great Mike Hussey, someone from Australia must cash in today otherwise Pakistan will be in the box seat to win this Test.

“I think it’s a massive day for Australia. Australia have to bat well today and get a lead to put Pakistan under pressure,” Hussey said on Fox Cricket.

“Batting last on this pitch is not going to be easy at all. So they have to get a lead.

“I think it’s going to be a really good pitch for batting on today, especially once you get through the new ball.

“(But if) Pakistan have a big day and win today, I reckon they’re in the box seat to win this Test.”

10.00AM: REMEMBERING WARNER’S 100 IN A SESSION

– Lachie McKirdy

All eyes will be on David Warner as he takes to the SCG to bat on day two with a chance to sign off from his Test career in style.

And while he was lucky to survive a scare last night facing the spin of Sajid Khan, he will be looking to repeat his heroics from the last time Pakistan played a Test at the SCG on Thursday morning.

In 2017, Warner created history by scoring a century inside the first session of the New Year’s Test.

He reached triple figures off just 76 deliveries and brought his home crowd to their feet as he became the first player in 41 years to achieve the feat in Test cricket.

The contrasting nature of Warner’s knock was on full display with 20-year-old Matt Renshaw down the other end contributing just 19 runs by the time the century partnership had been reached.

Warner was dismissed just after lunch and finished his innings on 113 off 95 deliveries, including 17 fours.

Now in his 112th and final Test match, Warner averages 105.30 across seven matches at home against Pakistan. And with five centuries to his name against the visitors, he will be looking to finish his career with one more as Australia attempts to make inroads on Pakistan’s first innings total of 313.

9.30AM; CAPTAIN PAT IS ON HIS TRAIL

– Jacob Kuriype

Michael Vaughan’s prediction Pat Cummins would retire as Australia’s second greatest ever Test cricketer was among the big talking points on day one.

Ahead of play on day two, Kerry O’Keeffe weighed into the debate on Fox Cricket’s Test Cricket Daily.

As things stand, among fast bowlers O’Keeffe still has Cummins sitting second, sandwiched between Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee. However, he could see that changing imminently.

“My trifecta is McGrath one, Cummins two, Lillee three,” O’Keeffe said.

“But Pat has shrunk his Test bowling average down to 22.1. If he gets into the 21s, which he may well do in the immediate futrue he may get over the great Pidgeon because he’s an all-pitch bowler now and he seems to be getting better.

“His command of length, his command of movement, his read of the batter, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him bowl better than he has in the past couple of weeks.

“McGrath will be nervous. The captain Pat is on his trail.”

After his third consecutive five-wicket haul, Cummins’ Test numbers read 257 wickets at 22.13. McGrath took 563 at 21.64 across his 124 Test career and Lillee 355 at 23.92 across 132 Tests.

9.00AM: HOW WARNER RECONNECTED WITH HIS TRUE WORKING-CLASS-HERO SELF

– Ben Horne

Stories swirled around the SCG as David Warner took to his home ground for the very last time … like the one about how he banished the Bentley and took a Toyota.

The man from the housing commission flats in Matraville who became the multi-millionaire cricket superstar is part of the rich tapestry of his life.

When Warner and wife Candice first met manager to the stars James Erskine as he looked to rebuild his career after the Sandpapergate scandal, his new advisor had one piece of parting advice.

“As he was leaving, I realised he owned a Bentley. I said, ‘oh by the way, one last thing – lose the Bentley,” Erskine said on 3AW radio.

“Four days later he arrived in a Toyota truck, so I thought that was pretty impressive.”

Warner reconnected with the person he is – a working class hero – and on Wednesday those people he grew up with packed into the SCG to watch his farewell, as an all-time great of Test cricket.

Father Howard and mother Lorraine, brother Steve and dozens of family and friends gathered to watch ‘The Bull’ one last time amongst 33,905 Sydneysiders – the biggest day one crowd for a Pakistan Test at the SCG.

It was a family affair as Warner led his three daughters, Ivy, Indi and Isla out to the middle with him to sing the national anthems before play: the girls’ with ‘Warner 31’ emblazoned on the back of their matching whites.

And in the stands, was wife Candice, the rock of his life who inspired his extraordinary comeback from his lowest moment.

“I can’t praise Candice more highly. I have a lot of time for her,” Erskine said.

“To be brutally honest, I don’t think David would have got through it all and be the person he is if Candice hadn’t been his missus.”

Warner started day one of ‘Warner Week’ on a panel with his soon-to-be colleagues at Fox Cricket listening as actor Matt Nable gave a stirring narration of his incredible life’s journey.

“Let’s go have a beer now,” Warner said – but of course there was a job to do first.

Before play, Australian coach Andrew McDonald addressed his players privately in the SCG dressing rooms and paid tribute to Warner in front of his peers.

In McDonald’s opinion, as well as captain Pat Cummins’, Warner is the greatest three-format cricketer Australia has ever produced.

A highlights package was played and after the Test a farewell celebration party will be thrown in Warner’s honour for his teammates, family and friends.

Warner was forced to take to the field in a replacement baggy green, after Pakistan spoiled the party and decided to bat first.

Despite his emotional pleas for its return, the thieves who stole Warner’s baggy greens out of his luggage this week are still yet to come clean.

“I haven’t found my caps. As I said in my video, if you have got my back pack, I’ll give you my backpack, all I want is those baggy greens back. Please,” Warner said.

Father Howard took aim at the “scumbag” who had nicked his son’s most prized possessions.

“Whatever scumbag has taken it is going to have to lay it off very shortly,” Warner snr told SEN Radio.

“They’ll find it dumped somewhere. I know he’s emotional. He would love to walk out with that baggy green on but if he can’t, he can’t. What can you do?”

Originally published as Australia v Pakistan, SCG Test: Day 2 live coverage and latest news