Australia vs England 1st Ashes Test, Day 2: Head, Warner guide Australia to 196-run lead in opening Test
Highlights
- Travis Head smashed a scintillating century and returned unbeaten on 112 runs.
- David Warner missed out on a well was worthy of century by 6 runs.
David Warner set up the innings with a chance-filled 94 and Travis Head took control of with an unbeaten century after a mini-collapse in the middle order to direct Australia to 343-7 at stumps on Day 2, a 196-run lead in the Ashes series opener.
Warner had a big reprieve on 17 off a no-ball from Ben Stokes, among the lots of times the England allrounder overstepped however among the few he was required. Warner was likewise dropped in the slips on 48 and directly avoided being run out as he scrambled back to his crease on 60.
However he lacked luck after sharing partnerships of 156 with Marnus Labuschagne (74) for the 2nd wicket and 23 with Steve Smith (12) for the 3rd, finally out just after the tea interval when Ollie Robinson took two wickets with successive deliveries.
Robinson had Warner captured in the covers by Stokes and then bowled Cameron Green, who didn’t play a shot to a ball that struck his off stump, in a period when Australia slid from 189-2 to 195-5.
New wicketkeeper Alex Carey successfully blocked the hat-trick ball, his very first shipment in test cricket, however was out for 12 as England clawed back to have the Australians at 236-6.
Head and captain Pat Cummins integrated in a 70-run stand that brought back Australia’s domination of the first two days at the Gabba, speeding up the scoring as England’s fielding got rough.
The collaboration ended when England skipper Joe Root got the wicket of his counterpart, having Cummins captured at leg slip.
Head continued with Mitchell Starc and was on 96 when he attempted a sweep to Root, was struck on the arm and Burns could not reach as the ball swelled down the leg side.
He reached his century from 85 deliveries with a driven boundary off Chris Waokes in the first over with the new ball, an innings including 12 fours and two sixes.
Head was dropped by a full-toss from Mark Wood when he was on 105, struck on the glove and helmet before being up to the ground, but recovered to finish unbeaten on 112 at stumps.
Warner’s survival and Stokes’ delivery stride were the 2 primary talking points on Thursday.
Warner got his very first reprieve from the TV umpire after being beaten by Stokes, bowling his very first over in a test match because March.
TV broadcaster Channel 7 showed Stokes had likewise exceeded the crease on his previous 3 deliveries and not been called by the umpires. The Ashes broadcaster later revealed Stokes had actually violated the front crease 14 times in the opening session on Day 2 and had actually only been called twice for a no-ball.
Cricket Australia said a technology issue at the Gabba indicated that the 3rd umpire, Paul Wilson, couldn’t evaluate TV replays of every shipment to examine if bowlers were over-stepping the crease, leaving it to the on-field umpires to make the calls.
Robinson returned the finest figures for the England bowlers, taking 3-48 from 18 overs on an extended 2nd day, and also having a possibility put down.
Left-arm spinner Jack Leach got the crucial wicket of Labuschagne, however was otherwise punished by the Australian batting line-up and returned 1-95 from 11 overs.
Stokes was restricted to just nine overs and conceded 50 runs, appearing to be dealing with his physical fitness when he bowled late with the old ball.
Published at Thu, 09 Dec 2021 02:09:39 -0600
