David Warner had never looked worse – that’s both an opinion and a fact.
The opinion is based on having watched him bat in every single one of his 77 Tests and never having seen him so vulnerable, so removed from his usual aggressive approach.
The fact is supplied by analysts CricViz, who tweeted that Warner had played a false shot to 16 of his first 30 balls faced last night, the least control he had ever shown over that early period of a Test innings.
It became comical. So regularly was Warner’s outside edge beaten and so bereft of answers did he appear that it was hard not to smirk when Stuart Broad befuddled him again and again.
It was genuinely funny when, after defeating Warner with an endless stream of jaffas, Broad got his first wicket with a rank legside delivery that Usman Khawaja tickled to keeper Jonny Bairstow.
At that stage Australia were 2-25 and the Dukes ball was swinging prodigiously and jagging off the seam. Warner was floundering on just five from 25 balls. Up to that point he had scrounged just 23 runs from 75 balls faced in this Ashes at a glacial strike rate of 30.
His issues were not just technical but mental – Warner looked overawed by the challenge. It wasn’t just a case of being beaten by good balls; he couldn’t even score off the loose ones. In those ugly first 30 balls last night he got several deliveries that peak Warner would have slammed to the boundary. Each time he was late to react to those opportunities, a by-product of what appeared to be a survival-first mentality.
Then something changed. Marnus Labuschagne replaced Khawaja at the crease and Warner got a full ball from Jofra Archer. He leaned into this delivery and cracked it through cover point. Soon after he tucked one away off his hip, then clipped Broad for two through midwicket and clattered him past point for four.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
After a rain delay, Warner drove Chris Woakes down the ground for three and, even more importantly, began regularly taking swift singles from defensive shots. Warner’s aggression is not limited to his stroke play. At his best he puts huge pressure on the fielding side with his daring running between wickets. It’s a clear sign he’s switched on.
Cricinfo’s control stats showed that Warner was only in control of 52 per cent of his first 25 balls, but that figure increased to 82 per cent for his following 25 balls. His confidence was flowing, his balance had improved and he was, as he loves to do, putting the bowlers under the pump.
With Labuschagne batting beautifully at the other end, Warner cruised to 61 before being undone by a great delivery from Archer. This may well seem like an excessive amount of description for a score of that size. But in the context of this evenly balanced Ashes, Warner’s knock last night was immensely important.
Australia boast only two world-class Test batsman and one of them is currently sidelined due to concussion. In the absence of Steve Smith, Warner had to step up. As grim as it was early on, he did just that last night.
Conditions could scarcely have been more difficult for batting – poor light against a hooping ball on a pitch offering extravagant seam movement. In the circumstances his 61 was worth double that on a good batting deck. If Australia are to win this series, they need Warner contributing. Last night he appeared to rediscover his self-belief.
All the while, Labuschagne batted like an accomplished Test veteran. Unlike Warner, the 25-year-old looked assured from the start of his innings. When he wasn’t leaving the ball nicely he was playing it late and with soft hands. More than any of the Aussie batsmen, he refused to chase deliveries and so forced the Englishmen to bowl at him. That earned him a number of clips off his pads, a stroke he plays beautifully.
After impressing with his composed and courageous 59 at Lord’s – a knock that helped Australia to a draw – Labuschagne’s second consecutive half-century yesterday booked his spot in the starting XI for the remainder of this Ashes.
When Smith returns for the next Test it surely will be at the expense of either Matt Wade or Khawaja. Labuschagne has made himself indispensable.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
You may have a point about Khawaja. But generally a lot of players miss balls going away down the leg side, which tend to be bad balls. It’s a matter of odds or luck whether you get a tickle once in a while. But you may be right that this was one he might have connected with better.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Apologies, was thinking of Craig Kieswetter the other keeper being touted at the same time as Buttler, who played ODI'S. As for Stokes he could've chosen NZ just as Renshaw chose Australia and D Pattinson had the choice of England and Australia. Anyway it's a global village and the Poms would be in even deeper if Stokes, Archer and Morgan had made different choices.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Hahaha!
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
This is a sport site.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
"You are just nakedly jealous he got 6-45 and had every right to. Or racist. Or both." Your comments are totally irrational and beside the point. Moreover, I notice when your views are challenged you resort to personal insults - not just to me but to several others on this thread. You made three assertions: a) Archer has an English passport - wrong; b) Archer is English - wrong, he Bajan and a British citizen; and c) Archer has a birthright to play for England - wrong again, he had to serve a qualifying period. And now you say that my three responses suggest I'm racist.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
just a little eye on some of the totals chased at headingly , west indies chased 355 for 5 and won 2 years ago, these been a couple of big ashes run chases made in 4th innings. , I think the batting is getting better
ojp
Guest
People should really stop claiming to be something they’re not. I think a certain David Starsky said it best.... https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/3342b6ad-a437-40fc-8672-b064a4b7a629 :stoked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Good point
Peter Warrington
Guest
please. not Smith. just let him bat. you saw the list of 20 strong candidates above?
Peter Warrington
Guest
that surely is an indictment of Khawaja's plateauxing or lack of cricket brain?
Nick
Roar Guru
I agree. Definitely not a monopoly...and half the yobs on this website would have absorbed those lies thanks to some of the commentary posted today. If a selection is within the rules, end of story. If it’s not within the rules, there are processes to deal with that. 100% agree. Which is why I'm mystified people are so sour about it or chucking out the ICC-ECB conspiracy theories, or forgetting we do it too. Hypocrisy, jealousy or xenophobia. One of, two of, perhaps all of. Doesn't matter. It's the vibe I guess! Enjoy your weekend.
Overandout
Roar Rookie
I've noted this elsewhere but I don't think Usi was unlucky to get out that way. His technique brings it into play. The side on shot of the snicko shows how far in front of his body his hands and bat were in playing that flick. Just begging for a fine edge and because contact is so far out in front of him and just outside the line of his hips/leg, there is no backup to prevent it going too fine to keeper. I'm sure some of the other really good top order batsmen play those shots a lot later under the eyes or don't flick at it outside line of their bodies. Happy to be corrected. When Uzi lose concentration he also tends to push out in front of him on offside to - hence a lot of his edged dismissals lately.
Jason
Roar Rookie
We ? Yeah sure old chap.
Cricket fan
Guest
Yeah absolutely true no excuse but I think this is time to change something and that is when smith comes in he should bat at three following by marnus at four and head at five and don't know who will be good at six but definitely there should be replacement for Paine still I don't know who will be?
Peter
Guest
Spruce, no, actually. If a selection is within the rules, end of story. If it’s not within the rules, there are processes to deal with that. By the way, xenophobia is hardly an Australian monopoly. Otherwise how do you explain Brexit? (Apart from the deliberate lies told by right wing spivs to a credulous audience, of course.)
George
Guest
Still sore about the WC I see. Your comment that England's win meant nothing because Australia has won more past tournaments was absolutely hilarious - albeit typical of the one-eyed chest-thumping that permeates The Roar.
danwain
Roar Rookie
You should probably not assume knowledge, particulary when it comes to a subject the majority of the British voting public doesn't understand, nor the politicians in charge. As for xenophobia, i live in Australia, i know it very well, so I'm unsure why i wouldn't understand the first thing about it?
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Hats off JL. You look to unearthed a future 3 for Australia in Labuschagne. Smith at 4, could be exciting.
James Butcher
Roar Rookie
He’s half English as is KP, the fact that they were born and brought up elsewhere doesn’t change that fact, regardless of how much you want it to.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Well we better hose it down quick then.