A wonderfully patient knock by David Warner and a typically fluent contribution from Peter Handscomb has put Australia in a strong position heading into Day 3 of the second Test in Bangladesh.
Warner and Handscomb’s 127-run partnership guided Australia to 2-225, trailing Bangladesh by just 80 runs.
Warner played one of the most circumspect knocks of his 66-match Test career, which was in stark contrast to his free-flowing 112 in the first Test.
That innings at Dhaka came at a sizzling strike rate of 83 and included a whopping 17 boundaries. Yesterday, Warner scored at a strike rate of just 51 and struck only four boundaries during his 170-ball stay.
To get an idea of just how patient Warner was, consider that, in his Test career, he has made 44 scores in excess of 50, yet only five have been at a strike rate less than 60.
What was most impressive was the manner in which Warner maintained his composure after a slow, scratchy start.
Warner loves to begin with a cluster of boundaries to assert his dominance over the bowlers. Here he shackled his ego and was content to let the Bangladesh bowlers control the tempo, even while his partner, Steve Smith (58), was scoring swiftly.
As his innings wore on, Warner expanded his repertoire of shots but remained careful in choosing which balls to attack.
It was an anchor innings, the likes of which his former opening partner, Chris Rogers, used to play regularly. Warner benefited from many of those by Rogers, enjoying the most prolific period of his career during the time he played alongside the veteran.
Yesterday, it was Warner’s calm which aided Handscomb and Smith, who both looked to take on the bowlers more often.
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Smith skipped away to 31 from 32 balls, with six boundaries in this early period, as he sought to put the spinners under heavy pressure. The Australian skipper was in complete control at the crease and looked set for a big century before playing for the turn and being bowled by a straight delivery from Taijul Islam.
That brought to the crease Handscomb, who like Warner before him looked out of sorts in his 45 minutes at the crease. The 26-year-old struggled to rotate the strike early and, on 7 from 26 balls, he appeared to be stuck in the mud.
But, following Warner’s lead, Handscomb exercised fine self-control and scrapped through this tough period. Soon enough he broke free and began to find a sprightly rhythm. Of particular note was his nimble and assertive footwork, as he regularly skipped down the track to turn good deliveries into half-volleys.
Even when he stayed in the crease, Handscomb made a point of getting well forward in defence, after playing off the back foot so regularly in the first Test.
As I pointed out in a recent article, Handscomb has continually made good starts during his six Tests in Asia this year, only to waste them, getting out for between 15 and 33 eight times.
He has the makings of a batsman who can be a prolific scorer in Asia. Australia need him to start that transformation today by going on to make a big century and put them in a dominant position.
Don Freo
Guest
Why do you want an anchor at #6, John?
Don Freo
Guest
I was wondering that too.
danno
Guest
Some writers never wanted Warner to play again in Asia. 2 great knocks by a world class batsman.
Johnny Cornrag
Roar Rookie
Ronan this has already been mentioned earlier Let us hope that for the Ashes sake it is not Maxwell And that Wade is displaced by a younger keeper
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
If Australia bat really well then this innings could be the final Ashes shootout between Maxwell and Cartwright for the number 6 spot in the Ashes. I have no doubt Khawaja will come straight back to bat at 3 for the first Ashes Test.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Ahh Disco that is messed up!
Disco Stu
Roar Rookie
I feel like I'm feeding a troll here, but the Ashes are nearly 3 months away. I'm confident one or both of Starc/Hazlewood will be fine. In any case, there's a slight chance on fast Australian pitches that they selectors might opt for, geez I don't know, Sayers, Bird, Behrendorff, or any one of the other fast bowlers on offer before going for an all-out spin attack.
Shane Warner
Guest
i thought i'd be able to tune in on grandstand or the 'abc extra' but instead they were playing repeats of nrl, and some bbc crap on the other
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Melbourne 2011 (admittedly that's only overseas if you are coming back to it but he was in Tassie in the previous test) Oval 2013 SL 2016 now. In all cases the following tracks were better for batting than the previous test resulting in him getting the boot.
Giri Subramanian
Roar Guru
Australia need to score at least 450 as chasing anything more than 150 will be difficult. So need to get as big a total as possible.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Or a Shane Watson: can't move but has pretty good hands
Disco Stu
Roar Rookie
I went camping with my son during the India series this year. There was no radio coverage on the Friday because of other weekday radio commitments. I was stoked to find that the ABC was covering it on the Saturday. This was the afternoon Australia was primed to win their first match in India in 7 million years. We had dinner. Got the fire on. Esky was full. It got to about 7pm. Game was going great. Announcer then says "Our NSW listeners will be leaving us now for the Super 15s Rugby. I have never been so heartbroken in my entire life. On the drive home on the Sunday, after the Aussies had won the historic match, Karen Tighe was on the ABC radio asking people to call in with stories about where they were when iconic sporting moments happened. I was driving so I couldn't call in, but I would have happily called in and told her where I was for the iconic 2017 test win in India. I was sitting beside a campfire NOT LISTENING TO THE BLOODY CRICKET.
Ouch
Guest
ha ha. I did the same for my 90 minute drive home
Ouch
Guest
Always? When are the other times?
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Glenman Maxwaja Combine the batting you get a dashing top order batsman Combine the bowler and it's not a great combo at all Combine the fielding and you get a lightning quick guy who can't catch
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
Glenman Maxwaja Combine the batting you get a dashing top order batsman Combine the bowler and it's not a great combo at all Combine the fielding and you get a lightning quick guy who can't catch
Ouch
Guest
I was wondering that too.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
That's clearly the only logical solution, you're obviously never allowed to benefit from luck in sport.
matth
Guest
Maybe Maxwell and Khawaja can morph into one batsman. Khawaja doesn't play in Asia and Maxwell doesn't play outside of Asia.
Matt P
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't be surprised if it ended up being decided on who's bowling they deem more useful for the Gabba, especially if neither outperforms the other with the bat here. You would have to imagine that Maxwell would need a shocker to be displaced though, usually a century gives you a few games leeway.