England gets last laugh after David Warner’s Jimmy Anderson sledge backfires
DAVID Warner backed up his pre-Ashes promise to “go to war” with England, welcoming an old foe to the crease with a blatant sledge. But instead of buckling, England fired back where it matters most.
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WHEN the sun’s hot, the wicket’s flat and the ball’s not swinging, there’s just one place to win an Ashes Test – in the head.
Day two of the Ashes was Mind Game Friday and David Warner was in the middle of it all – firstly conjuring it, then copping it.
England captain Joe Root played his part with some impressive inventive and proactive field placings. When the game promised to give him nothing, he moved ahead of it.
English press doyen Scyld Berry says Root has the calm of Andrew Strauss and the tactical savvy of former Ashes winner Ray Illingworth and Australia are not used to such boldness from rival Ashes captains.
This contest between two teams with stars and soft spots could be one of the most intriguing Ashes series for many years, for neither team looks good enough to break away nor bad enough to lag behind for too long.
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Warner positioned himself in the path of Jimmy Anderson as the English paceman walked to the crease for his first bat of the series.
With his hands behind his back, Warner said something that riled Anderson enough to make him turn his head and snap back.
Maybe it was not quite in the league of “get ready for a broken f------ arm’’ that Michael Clarke delivered to Anderson four years ago but it showcased Australia’s Plans A, B, and C against the England tail.
Raw aggression.
England’s tail copped so many bouncers that at one stage Steve Smith did not even bother having a fieldsman in front of the wicket on the off-side against Anderson.
Stuart Broad – as always – copped his share and attempted to make a statement of defiance by dramatically backing up for a second run which was never going to be seriously contemplated when the furnace was at its hottest.
LISTEN: Ben Horne and Robert Craddock review a fascinating day’s play at the Gabba
It was as if he was saying “no gentleman, I’m not scared of the short ball ... in fact I’d love to face more of them and I’m desperate to get back on strike’’.
But it was England’s thoughtful approach to Warner when they took the field that was just as significant.
Knowing that he loves the open spaces early in his innings to propel his fuel-injected starts, England posted a deep cover point to ensure Warner’s off-side blast got nothing more than a single.
Nothing changes the tempo of a Test match than Warner off the leash but there was no chance of that happening at the Gabba.
England attempted to sentence Warner to death by starvation. It was simple, clever stuff and they got their man.
Warner was eight off eight overs, and 13 off 14, and never broke out of first gear.
They were happy to give Warner a single hoping he would trip over his ego.
He didn’t but they got him anyway when he steered a short ball to short mid-wicket.
Cumulative pressure won the day.
This is not the best England team to have toured Australia but they are experienced, clever and well planned.
It should be a fascinating summer.
Originally published as England gets last laugh after David Warner’s Jimmy Anderson sledge backfires