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David Warner went Kaboom before the second Test in Adelaide. His decision to not air “cricket’s dirty laundry” led to front and back-page news across the country.
On Thursday, his manager, James Erskine, did the talking for him, telling SEN radio “they [the Australian cricket team] were told to do it (tamper with the ball)”.
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In the City of Churches, the left-hander’s sins were once again coming back to haunt him.
Warner ensured the ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket in early 2018 would continue to do the rounds, as he failed to let his bat do the talking by falling early on day one in Adelaide. The Proteas aren’t even playing in this Test, but they would be licking their lips about the prospect of taking on Warner and his teammates in Brisbane in a week’s time.
Cricket – the on-field action, at least – once again played a sideshow for the action unfolding off the field, with Erskine’s comments another bombshell for Cricket Australia to deal with.
Australia, meanwhile, cruised to 3-330 on the first day of the second Test, as the West Indies fought hard but rarely threatened with the ball after losing the toss and being asked to bowl to Marnus Labuschagne (120 not out) again.
The prolific run-scorer continued his stunning start to the summer, hitting his third straight century against the West Indies. He was well supported by Usman Khawaja (62) before local boy Travis Head (114 not out) scored his first Test century on his home ground and fifth of his career.
Here are our talking points from day one.
David Warner missed out once again against the West Indies. Photo: Quinn Rooney – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Whatever you think about Cricket Australia’s handling of Sandpaper Gate and Warner’s lifelong leadership ban, the left-hander will be conscious of needing runs.
It is not as if Warner can’t buy a run, but rather buy a big score. A three digit score.
Centuries are the currency that batters live and die by.
They not only give a player confidence, but they do wonders to your average.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia celebrates making his century. Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images
It’s been almost three years since Warner scored an international century. By anyone’s standards, Warner’s particularly, that’s a long time.
He scored runs against England last summer and Pakistan away in the subcontinent, but the cold hard facts are that in the past 13 Tests, or 53 weeks, Warner is averaging just 30.52 with the willow.
With tours of India and England to follow, where he has averaged just 24 and 26 respectfully, they are numbers that are concerning.
At 36, age is becoming his enemy.
It might sound predictable and lazy to simply say that, but Warner more than most relies on his eyes. He throws his hands and goes hard at the ball.
On Thursday, having played a couple of nice drives, Warner was coaxed into playing at a wider delivery and ending up edging behind. It wasn’t long ago those balls were flying to the fence in Australia.
Pat Cummins, during a brief Fox Cricket commentary stint on Thursday night, said the team was right behind Warner over his decision to withdraw his appeal.
“I chatted to Davey today and he is great,” Cummins said on Fox. “We really support Davey. He is a huge member of our side and been fantastic for me my whole career.
“In this side he has been an awesome leader, especially the past few years. He has our absolute support, we really back him and respect his decision.”
Marnus Labuschagne celebrated his return to the summit of Test batting by hitting his third consecutive century against the West Indies.
By doing so, he joined an illustrious list of players to achieve that against the West Indies following in the footsteps of Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Yousuf.
He also joined Sir Donald Bradman, Matthew Hayden, Neil Harvey, David Boon and Ricky Ponting by scoring three centuries in three consecutive matches on multiple occasions for Australia.
They are simply mindboggling numbers.
But what stood out was the patience Labuschagne played with.
While Ian Smith bizarrely questioned whether Australia should have attacked more in the second hour of the opening session, Mike Hussey marvelled at Labuschagne’s ability to forget about the past and start again.
Once again the feature of his innings was his shot selection. He took more than an hour to find the boundary, but when he did it was worth the wait.
He late cut beautifully to the boundary off Anderson Philip to move to 26 off 72. It was sublime. Not long after drove down the ground through a straight mid-on. Both shots were signs of a man at the top of his game.
Labuschagne once again moved past his teammate Steve Smith’s test average, which has dropped back to 61.17.
Australia’s new slayer
Last year it was England, this time it was the West Indies.
In Brisbane, almost 12 months ago to the day, Head came in with Australia in a spot of bother as England threatened to blow open the home side.
Pat Cummins’ side weren’t for long as he smashed 152 off 148 to give Australia the ascendency.
It wasn’t the only time in the series that he got Australia out of jail, as he returned in style in the final Test to peel off another quick-fire century in Hobart as the top order were sent packing.
In Adelaide, Head came to the crease at 3-131 as the tourists took 2-2 to come back into the match and the series.
But once again the left-hander attacked and played fluently from the get-go.
Kerry O’Keeffe later said that he reminded him of another left-hander, Matthew Hayden.
He brought up his century with a drive down the ground as he got on the front-foot that Hayden used to dominate off. It was his first century on his home ground.
Head averages well over 50 in Australia in Test cricket. But as O’Keeffe said, “He has work to do overseas” given he averages just a tick over 23.
Like Warner, tours of India and England will challenge his technique and his decision-making.
If he succeeds, it could be career-defining.
Oh, for the days of bygone eras. A penny for the thoughts of Brian Lara, who watched his former side take to the field in Adelaide without a hope in hell and walked off down but not out.
The West Indies didn’t bow down. Missing a number of players because of injury, the tourists copped another blow when Marquino Mindley went down with injury in the first session and was only able to bowl two more overs.
But the sight of Kraigg Brathwaite, who is a very competent batsman, turning to spin, part-time spin, in the first hour was a horrible sight.
Once upon a time the Windies could turn to Michael Holding or Colin Croft or Malcolm Marshall or ‘Big Bird’ Joel Garner. Then came Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
Now Braithwaite was turning to Devon Thomas, a wicket-keeper and useful part-time medium pacer, to do the heavy lifting.
Thomas picked up the key wicket of Usman Khawaja as he managed to trap him in front with a skillful bit of bowling, but it was dispiriting to see the Windies reduced to part-time quicks on the first day of the second Test.
For the most part the West Indies managed to hold it together by bowling good lines and reasonable lengths, but as Brendon Julian said, it was all a bit “too friendly”.
For the second straight summer, Australia’s bowling stocks will be tested with captain Pat Cummins and his fellow quick Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the second Test against the West Indies in Adelaide.
The world class duo were replaced by cult heroes Scott Boland and Michael Neser, who both made their debuts in the Ashes. The decision meant young firebrand quick Lance Morris, the season’s leading wicket taker in Sheffield Shield cricket, was denied the chance to earn a baggy green.
While Cummins was ruled out earlier in the week, Hazlewood was a late scratching with news of his withdrawal only filtering out around noon on Thursday.
It is the second straight summer the duo missed the Adelaide day-night Test, after Cummins (Covid) and Hazlewood (rib) were stunning withdrawals during last year’s Ashes.
Ahead of the Test stand-in captain Smith revealed selectors did not want to risk Cummins given the heavy workload over the next 12 months, but said he was likely to return in time for next week’s series opener against the Proteas in Brisbane.
“I don’t think he was too far away (from playing) and he will continue to build this week,” Smith said of Cummins.“But with what’s coming up, a big series against South Africa and then Tests in India, there’s a lot of cricket.
“I think we’ve made the right call and he’ll be fine to go for the next Test match I’m sure.”
Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins were both ruled out of the second Test in Adelaide. Photo: Quinn Rooney – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images
On Thursday, moments after winning the toss and electing to bat, a relaxed looking Smith couldn’t help but chuckle given the coincidence of captaining Australia for the second time in as many years at the venue.
“I had a bit more time to get my head around it this year,” he quipped. “Unfortunately, Cummo came up no good, but hopefully he’ll be back for the next Test match.”
The news might not be as good for Hazlewood, with Smith coy on his fitness. “It was yesterday evening (he was ruled out),” Smith said.
“Unfortunately, Joshy’s pulled up not so well. So Michael Neser gets another opportunity here. He bowled really well here last year and he gets another go.
“I’m not entirely sure at the moment (if he will be fit next week). The medical staff will monitor him closely this week, but fingers crossed.”
Lance Morris was left out of Australia’s XI despite Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins being ruled out against the West Indies. Photo: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Hazlewood’s absence against South Africa would be a big blow, with the Proteas behind Australia in second spot on the ICC Test Championship.
Selectors could have unleashed West Australian quick Morris, who is this season’s leading wicket taker in the Sheffield Shield with 27 wickets at 27.40 and was a surprise call-up for the series.
Instead, they have turned to medium pacers Boland and Neser.
Their selections are rewards for their patience and past performances for Australia. Boland has 10 wickets at 24 while Neser has 24 wickets at 14.55 to start the Shield season.
Yet former Australian star turned selector Mark Waugh said he would have liked to have seen Morris, who is capable of bowling quicker than 150km/h, picked over one of Boland or Neser, who are similar bowlers.
“I thought they might’ve went with him ahead of Neser given that he’s got that extra pace. Boland and Neser are a similar sort of pace,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“It would’ve been tempting (to pick Morris). They’ve brought him into the squad so he’s obviously on the radar which is a good sign for Morris. 150km/h under lights – he would’ve been a handful.”
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