Broad snags Warner scalp for a 13th time
Rob Forsaith |
They came to watch the resumption of an Ashes series already decided, but David Warner’s duel with England’s new-ball pairing provided a captivating chapter again.
The wicket of Warner, claimed by Stuart Broad for a 13th time, delivered England their only moment of joy during two rain-marred sessions in Sydney.
It came in the opening over of Broad’s second spell when the veteran paceman operated around the wicket and attacked a similar line and length to that which routinely troubled Warner throughout the 2019 Ashes.
It raised even more questions about England’s selections this series.
“Stuart Broad, where were you in Brisbane?” England’s former captain Michael Vaughan pondered in the Fox Sports commentary box.
The SCG could potentially be hosting the final Test involving icons Broad, Warner and Jimmy Anderson; depending on the visitors’ XI in Hobart.
Warner’s flourishes and failures have been the prism through which so many Ashes contests have been analysed.
This summer, it has been the former.
Warner is yet to reach three figures but, as of the midway point of a sodden day one of the fourth Test, topped the series’ run-scoring charts with 270 at 54.
It is a fair achievement given the state of the belligerent opener’s battered ribs in Brisbane, where his knock of 94 put Australia on track to quickly retain the urn.
That Gabba match was also a statistical anomaly, marking one of Warner’s 27 Ashes Tests in which he has faced an attack without Broad or Jimmy Anderson.
Anderson has played every Test since, while Broad was snubbed again in Melbourne.
“From our perspective, I think it is a great result that he is not playing,” Warner said last week.
The most prolific new-ball Test pairing in history reunited in England’s XI at the SCG.
Anderson’s rising delivery to Warner proved about as good a tone-setting start as England could hope for, outside a wicket.
The day’s first ball spat off the pitch, striking a surprised Warner on the glove and prompting him to examine the pitch more closely.
Delivered at a pace of 122 km/h, it suggested recent rain had ensured the deck has something in it for the touring quicks.
It proved a deceptive siren’s call.
Warner got on top of Anderson and Broad in their new-ball spells, driving three early boundaries to get the scoreboard ticking over.
DAVID WARNER’S TEST DISMISSALS (BY BOWLER)
*13 – Stuart Broad
*10 – James Anderson, Ravichandran Ashwin
*6 – Umesh Yadav
*5 – Neil Wagner
AAP
