Warner in the hunt for Lara's record

Centurion Usman Khawaja says David Warner's phenomenal hot streak can continue all the way to a world record individual score on day two of the second Test in Perth.

Warner took his game to a new level in batting out the day for the first time in his Test career and posting a career-best 244 not out – the most runs ever scored in a single Test match day in Australia.

Quick single: Warner's 200 powers Australia in Perth

Khawaja accompanied him for a record-breaking 302-run stand, making 121 in the process, but it was the Warner Show from go to whoa.

The left-hander is still 156 runs short of Brian Lara's historic 400, which was achieved in 2004, only six months after Matthew Hayden set the bar at 380.

Hayden's epic was also at the WACA Ground, and though the Queenslander was a relatively modest 183 not out at stumps on day one, he accelerated remarkably upon reaching 200 on day two – taking only another 145 deliveries to reach what is still the Australian record total.

Sit back and enjoy Warner's knock

With Australia already in command of proceedings at 2-415, one would suspect something similar will be required of Warner if he is to come close to eclipsing Lara's mark, with captain Steve Smith likely eyeing a declaration at a similar time to when he called the innings closed in Brisbane; one hour after lunch.

That scenario would give the opening batsman three hours to collect the required runs – something Khawaja says is well within his teammate's capabilities.

"I hope (he gets a shot at the world record). What is it, 401? (By) the great man (Lara). I think Davey will probably be thinking about 250 first, and then 300, but if anyone can do it tomorrow it's probably him," Khawaja said.

"But at the end of the day, we're going to have to see how the game's going too. We'll always be team first, so we need to see how it's panning out.

"But if anyone can get 150 in not much time it's Davey, so I'd love to see that.

"(What he did today) was probably something that only him and maybe a few others around the world could do. It was great to have the front-row seat to him smacking them around everywhere."

Watch: Khawaja sings Warner's mature approach

Australia's mammoth total was achieved despite Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum changing tack from Brisbane and setting quite defensive fields – particular to Warner – from early in the day.

Quick single: The good, the bad and the Warner

Khawaja said it was testament to his teammate that he was able to bide his time collecting singles for long periods of his innings, and seizing boundary opportunities when they arose.

"The ball softened up and put in defensive fields … (which) makes it tough to score," he said. "We could only get singles at times when they had deep point, deep square leg.

"I think Davey did brilliantly in that he didn't actually lose his head – he just kept hanging in there and when he got a bowler that he liked, he really took them down.

"That's how the game ebbed and flowed today; we got runs in clusters, where it's not usually like that at the WACA.

"Credit to Davey. He's learnt his game. He knows he's got the explosiveness up there with the best cricketers in the world, but he doesn't always have to use it. He's learnt that now. He picks and chooses when he needs to use it."

Black Caps bowling coach Dimitri Mascarenhas said his bowlers were well below par but conceded Warner's innings was a masterclass.

"We weren't where we want to be, we know that, but they played some pretty special innings out there as well," Mascarenhas said.

"I think for 85 per cent of the time we were pretty poor … but Warner was pretty spectacular – he didn't give any chances the whole way through.

"He's in a rich vein of form at the moment – we've tried a few plans and they're definitely not working at the moment.

"So we're going to have to reassess tonight and see where we need to bowl to him, but it's tough; he goes through spells where he'll hit 20 ones in a row and all of a sudden he'll hit 20 off an over.

"He's pretty phenomenal at the moment."

Watch: Another silky ton for Khawaja

Warner made his first 100 from 118 balls and took another 118 to reach his double century.

Quick single: Warner marches into top echelon

He then blasted his next 44 runs from just 36 balls, cashing in on the hard new ball at the expense of Trent Boult.

"(Facing the) second new ball, Warner (got balls) in his area and the field was up, he was on 200-odd and seeing it pretty big," Mascarenhas added.

"He can hit the ball wherever he wants at the moment."