Australia opener David Warner scored a century as England laboured in the field on the opening day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test in Melbourne.

The 31-year-old impressed with some fine strokeplay in a one-sided morning session against an England side reeling after surrendering The Ashes in Perth.

Warner received a reprieve on 99 to claim his 21st Test hundred as an Australia side chasing a series whitewash took full advantage of winning the toss on an unresponsive Melbourne Cricket Ground drop-in pitch.

The opener spooned England debutant Tom Curran to Stuart Broad at mid-on one run shy of his century and began to trudge off, but was soon on his way back to the middle with replays showing the seamer had overstepped.

Warner added further to the England team's woes off the next delivery when he raised his hundred off 130 balls with a flick off his hip, but did not stay at the crease for much longer as he was caught behind off James Anderson for 103.

Under a cloudless sky and on a flat surface, home captain Steve Smith went on to make an unbeaten half-century to guide Australia to 244-3 in front of a crowd of 88,172.

England, already 3-0 down, are looking to avoid a second successive Ashes whitewash down under and third in 11 years.