IT's official - David Warner has booked his place among the greatest openers in Australian cricket's 138-year history.
Once derided as a Twenty20 specialist, Warner continued his transformation from short-form slugger to Test-match terminator with another brutal century yesterday. 
Having thumped 163 in the first innings, Warner (116 from 113 balls) belted the Black Caps again on day three to frank his status as one of Australia's finest top-order technicians.
Cricket has some mind-numbing statistics but in Warner's case the numbers prove he belongs in the illustrious company of Matt Hayden, Mark Taylor, Michael Slater, Bill Lawry and Justin Langer.
Australia's new vice-captain posted his 14th Test ton, joining Ricky Ponting and Indian great Sunil Gavaskar as the only men to score two centuries in a Test match three times. In the process, his Test average in the opening slot soared to 50 - the mark of batting greatness. It is on par with Hayden (50.73) and better than the career marks of Langer (48.22), Lawry (47.15), Taylor (43.49) and Slater (42.83).
The 29-year-old (3900 Test runs) is now on the cusp of becoming- the sixth Australian opener to reach the elite 4000-run club.
Hayden stands at the summit as Australia's greatest run-scoring Test opener, having plundered 8625 runs in a 103-Test career spanning 15 years.
But with Warner determined to anchor Australia's top order for the next six years, the dashing deputy has the time, talent and hunger to threaten Hayden's record.
Warner recently purchased a Lamborghini V10 Huracan, which can go from zero to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds. At the crease, the Matraville mauler can accelerate just as quickly, but a wiser Warner now has the ability to shift gears mid-innings and slow down when necessary.
Exhibit A was yesterday's masterclass. Warner raced to 50 from 44 balls. In the final session, he took a back seat to partner Joe Burns before upping- the ante again.