As I am penning this piece, Australia find themselves stranded at 4/75, with Matthew Wade trying to settle in and advance the rescue act with Steve Smith.
With the murky overhead conditions, the 35-over old cherry is still nibbling around as the hosts look to further overhaul their visitors and secure a handsome first-innings lead.
Two successive wickets of Usman Khawaja and Travis Head has put Australia on the back foot and a lot of work needs to be carried out from here. In this piece, however, we are going to divert our whole attention to Australia’s No.3 and his, so far, promising-yet-woeful performance in the Ashes.
Each time Khawaja has come out to bat in this series, he has looked comfortable at the crease with some definite feet movement and avoiding to fish a country mile outside off-stump.
His technique has been compact and he has played some delightful strokes through the course of his three innings. Each time he did the hard yards of facing the sparkling red ball after the early dismissal of one of the openers and each time he would settle in a bit, only to get out some overs later after looking quite solid at the crease.
Despite the lack of technical frailties and a jumbled mind, Khawaja is yet to convert his stable starts into something significant. To me, he is lacking the conviction he had while battling it out in the dusty troughs of Dubai and amassing runs at Canberra a few months later. He hasn’t shown the sort of authority we are used to seeing.
Although he did play a couple of imposing back-foot square cuts earlier today, it’s the overall approach and the stance that he needs to mend.
A few overs before his dismissal, Khawaja shoulder-armed to a number of deliveries from Chris Woakes that went up the slope. One of these deliveries jagged into him from a length and whizzed past the top of off.
Khawaja must have seen the replays on the big screens it would have made him a bit wary of leaving the ball from that length. You compare that delivery to his wicket ball and there is a realisation that the two bowls were almost pitched on a similar line and length.
The one he got out on nipped across him and, with the tight leave earlier in the back of his mind, Khawaja decided to put bat on it so as not to shoulder-arm and hear the death rattle from behind. But he poked at it a bit too much as the ball kissed the outside part of his blade and was safely gobbled up by Bairstow behind the stumps.
Then he strolled back to the dressing room after promising a lot with a nice-looking start.
For me, Khawaja needs to be demoted to No.4 where he should be best suited given his uncertain technique against the moving ball and the fact that he plays spin really well.
This should allow him more freedom to go about things and really make a case for himself to score bigger and spend greater time out in the middle. He, indeed, is a class act but he needs to put up prolonged shows of his elegance rather than showing mere glimpses of it.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
You think Warner was a one day specialist expected to win an Ashes? Warner’s test record is on track to eclipse Mathew Hayden’s if he plays the same number of tests. He’s easily our second best test bat. Just out of form at the moment. He’s a champion opener in all formats. Give him some space. When he clicks it will all come flooding back. Bancroft on the other hand has done bugger all with his opportunities averaging 26. While poor Joe Burns can’t even make the squad. Burns on the other hand averages 40 in test cricket and has 4 tons to his name.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Once again Warner, most of the posters here just won't listen U. Brave labauschagne so far
Overandout
Roar Rookie
Another chance for UK to deliver a match winning / saving innings goes by......
Simoc
Guest
Garbage. Warner has been and is a great test bat. He's trying to be more circumspect and it's not working. The other opener should have been Harris who earnt the spot and should have kept it. Bancroft doesn't look up to test standard so far in England but everyone also said that about Rory Burns prior to the first test. A few boundaries at the start, lucky or not, and the confidence makes up for plenty. Also the Pommie bowling attack is at least as strong as ours. I'de rate Archer one, then Woakes, Lyon, Cummins, Hazelwood, Broad but Broad probably has most wickets of anyone. The only change (bar a Bancroft ton) for the next test in batting would be Harris for Bancroft. Both Warner and Bancroft look better than Roy, Buttler who we know are outstanding in white ball cricket. Buttler like Warner, Root is out of form.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Makes more sense than those screaming for Usman's head.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Well said. This modern theory that any batsman can bat anywhere from 1 to 6 doesn't wash in the test arena. When the new ball moves around, it is imperative to have the right players in the top three.
U
Roar Rookie
Ussie has more runs in the series than Warner and Bancroft put together. Ussie to open with Lab to come in
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
This "best batsman bats at three" is total nonsense. Ian Chappell has preached this for a decade although he conveniently forgets that he batted at three, while brother Greg, the best batsman of his era, batted at four. The game has changed since early 80's but the openers and number three still do well to protect the stroke players from the new ball with the bowlers tails up.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
To be completely fair, Warner got in on his past test record, combined with some form in the World Cup. It was never going to be any different.
tauranga boy
Roar Rookie
Leave UK alone. Batting’s been difficult under the leaden skies. Usman and (to a certain extent) Bancroft hung around a long time yesterday getting the shine off the ball, absorbing pressure and tiring the fast bowlers in what seems to be another low scoring test. They did ok!!
Overandout
Roar Rookie
May as well try Marnus at 3 and replace Bancroft with UK where his 30-40s would be great right now and take some pressure off Warner. UK had enough chances at 3 over a few series and just doesn't seem to have the authority to deliver real match defining innings. Time for someone else. Opposing teams don't worry about a #3 who can get elegant 40s and rarely go on or can't scrap it out over 2 sessions if required.
Mike B
Guest
Warner is a quality Test batsman and his record shows that. Over 70 Tests and a 45+ average in a series where only two other batsman have better stats (Smith and Root) means he's worth persisting with. Yes, England isn't his favourite place but I recall Dougie Walters struggled in England as well. In fact, many quality players have. He has a proven record with 21 Test centuries - some on flat tracks and some not (I remember a brilliant knock at Hobart where all else failed). We cannot carry 2 struggling openers and so, in my mind, Bancroft should go. Usman has a good opening record in Tests and bats well with Warner - they're childhood cricket mates. Loosebuschange in at no.3 and leave Smith at 4. LB seems to like English conditions. It's important for a team to support players through a bad game or two. Having said that, we can't carry two struggling openers and Warner's record and greater match-winning potential, should earn him more time than Bancroft to come good. Keep Bancroft as 12th man and have him fielding at short leg. Why not, England have been doing that sort of thing for years (2005?) and Roger Harper made a career out of it!
James
Roar Rookie
Warner and Khawaja should open in test 3. Last chance for Warner. Bancroft replaced by Labuschagne. Same batting skillset but we get a bowling option.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
I'd love to hear any suggestions for any Australian opener who would be better than David Warner, because I certainly can't think of any
James
Roar Rookie
Both teams are light on batting talent. One superstar (Smith) One very good batsmen (Root) one stylish bat with concentration issues (Khawaja), a heap of flat track bullies (Warner, Roy, Bairstow, Buttler, and Wade) a few scrappers (Head, Burns, Denly, Bancroft and Paine), a talented allrounder batting too high (Stokes) and not a lot of options. It is like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic for both teams! I am enjoying the bowling though.
Gavan Iacono
Roar Rookie
Again, choosing BOTH Warner and Bancroft in England to open together is madness, multiplying a risk. Bancroft averages mid 20s in tests, and on the eye test fails miserably. Warner, has been found out away from home. England are salivating at the prospect if this combination continuing.
Gavan Iacono
Roar Rookie
Smith and root aren't comparable, an excuse to do nothing.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
I don't believe Warner and Bancroft are mutually exclusive commodities as you say they are; I don't quite understand the link there And I don't get either of your points about excluding Warner and Bancroft either: Warner is Australia's 2nd most experienced batsman, I'd much rather him than 2 rookies; and are you trying to imply that FC form is insufficient in justifying someone's inclusion the team? That's bizarre if true, FC stats have been what teams have been picked on for years
Josh H
Roar Rookie
England have had the exact same problem as Australia do: an underperforming top 3 That means they've trialled their best batsman (Root) to bat 3 to even out the weaknesses among the rest of the batting order. That is precisely what you're suggesting here with Smith.
Extra Short Leg
Roar Rookie
Probably wouldn't make much difference. Smith routinely enters the game at 2/not many any way. If he likes the 4 slot, leave him there. I'm pretty sure Smith understands the responsibility he carries as far as run production is concerned.