David Warner’s ‘return to form’ on ice, Usman Khawaja is a goner and Australia find their voice again
David Warner’s first innings return and some fine slip catching had Australian fans hopeful that his poor Ashes form had been reversed. But another failure with the bat suggests issues are still to be resolved.
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The sun came out at Headingley on day two of the third Ashes Test, and Australia’s bowlers enjoyed a day out and a half.
A lead of 283 with four second innings wickets remaining, and three days of scheduled play left, means the match is all but won. And the series, too, in all likelihood.
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Here are five things we learned from a day or carnage:
ONE INNINGS ISN’T ENOUGH
The world was exciting again when David Warner made 61 in the first innings. It was full of fight and grit, in tough conditions, which, we hoped was an indication that friendlier pitches might mean more runs.
But then the opener was out for a second ball duck to Stuart Broad, the fourth time this series the veteran English seamer has got him, and a fifth single figure score.
Warner has a couple more Tests to prove he’s not Broad’s bunny, but right now the score is 4-30 in the Englishman’s favour. Warner has faced 85 balls from Broad, and scored off just 13 of them.
THE YAP IS BACK, AND IT WORKS
IT’s no coincidence that Australia’s best day of the series came as they turned the verbal dial up to 11.
The Aussies were relentless with their on-field chat from ball one at Headingley, with captain Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon and Matthew Wade the loudest voices.
Put under the helmet at short-leg, Wade was talking so much if his mum was in the vicinity she would have told him to shut up.
They got in to Jason Roy for “going hard”, which he did when he was out for nine.
Wade called for Pat Cummins to “Brad Pitt” Rory Burns. Roy and Wade were going at it when the Australian batted too. It might be the battling English opener’s last chance.
ENGLAND COOKED JOFRA
Every back page of the many English papers had a picture of Jofra Archer on Friday after his Thursday haul of 6-45.
Headlines screamed “Six God” as the West Indian-born quick became English’ cricket’s saviour. But after he had to go back out to bowl again after just one night’s rest, Archer had no impact.
He opened with three overs, then five more, for nothing.
Then after four balls late in the day, all less than 130khm, he limped off the ground with a stiff left leg, later reported as cramp. After 44 overs at Lord’s, then 17 first innings overs at Headingley, three more than anyone else, England is in danger of frying the goose they thought had laid their golden egg.
USMAN KHAWAJA OUT, STEVE SMITH IN
IT was always going to be a big second innings for the Australian number three, who hasn’t got away at any stage this series, in an important position too.
His 31 runs in two bats at Headingley took his series haul to 122 runs at an average of just 20. More worrying though is his career average in England is now 19.66.
He’s played six Tests, had 12 innings, and made just 236 runs, with only one half-century. Marnus Labuschagne can bat at three, Matthew Wade, who made 110 at Edgbaston and a dogged 33 in the second innings here, can keep if Tim Paine gets injured.
There isn’t a lot else in Khawaja’s favour with Steve Smith to return for the fourth Test at Manchester.
THE AUSTRALIAN SELECTORS GET A TICK
When the “squad mentality” was first floated, there were some groans, because it seemed rotation of bowlers would happen no matter what.
But Australian selectors were willing to leave Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc out of the first Test, which the Aussies won. They recalled Hazlewood for the next two Tests, and he has starred. James Pattinson got 2-9 after being recalled too.
But it’s not just the bowlers. They overlooked both Kurtis Patterson and Joe Burns for the squad, both Test century makers in February, picking Marnus Labuschagne who didn’t have a Test ton.
He’s well on track to get one though, so hats off to the selectors.
Originally published as David Warner’s ‘return to form’ on ice, Usman Khawaja is a goner and Australia find their voice again