‘Fool’ radio commentator told to leave after Steve Smith jinx

A popular Australian cricket commentator has made a formal apology on live radio for a comment made about Steve Smith.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 16: Jos Buttler of England reacts after dropping a shot played by Marnus Labuschagne of Australia during day one of the Second Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval on December 16, 2021 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Australia is in a commanding position at stumps on day two of the Adelaide day-night Test, with two late wickets ending a horror day for England.

Mitchell Starc ominously struck early with the pink ball to remove Rory Burns for just four before Michael Neser claimed his maiden Test wicket in another dream start for the Aussies.

England struggled to 2/17 at stumps after play was abandoned an hour early as a result of a thunderstorm striking Adelaide.

Earlier, the hosts declared at 9/473 in the final session of play, with captain Steve Smith falling seven runs short of a 28th Test century in the first innings.

You can read all about the hex that popular radio commentator Gus Worland unwittingly put on the Australian captain in the live updates below.

Marnus Labuschagne earlier brought up his sixth Test century in the afternoon session, his first in Ashes cricket, while wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored his maiden fifty before he was removed with the final ball before the tea break.

England fought back in the second session with four wickets, but their misery continued into the final session with the Aussie tail bashing 83 runs from just 10 overs at the end of the innings.

There was nobody more happy to see the lightning and rain than English batters Dawid Malan and Joe Root, who will resume their innings on Saturday with Australia still 456 runs ahead.

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Marnus Labuschagne of Australia celebrates scoring a century. Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

‘I’m a fool’: Radio commentator told to leave

Popular cricket commentator Gus Worland has made a “formal” apology to Australia after he put the mocker on Australian captain Steve Smith.

Smith was dismissed on 93 when James Anderson trapped him in front LBW.

His dismissal came after Worland committed the cardinal sin of declaring Smith was certain to go on and reach the century.

Worland was immediately called out for his faux pas when he made his remarks on Triple M radio.

“Dan Ginnane’s gonna call Steve Smith’s century in the next 20 minutes,” Worland said of his Triple M colleague.

His comments prompted a bitter response from Ginnane, who was inside the commentary box, but was not even near a microphone.

“Oh, don’t jinx it,” he could be heard saying.

You’re better than that Gus.

Steve Smith’s luck ran out on 93. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

Worland responded: “I’m not going to jinx it. Steve Smith is going to get his hundred and you’re going to call it”.

He turned out to be very wrong.

“If this is out put Worland on the first plane back to Sydney,” Ginnane said as Smith was removed.

Later in the day, Worland made a grovelling return to the microphone.

“I’d like to apologise formally on national radio,” he said.

“I apologise for getting Steve Smith out. I’m a fool. I’m an idiot. And please forgive me Australia.”

Neser claims maiden Test wicket

Queensland seamer Michael Neser only needed two deliveries to snare his maiden wicket in Australian whites.

The 31-year-old bowled a full delivery at England opener Haseeb Hameed, who looked to flick the pink ball off his pads through mid-wicket.

But Hameed only managed to scoop the ball directly towards Mitchell Starc at mid-on.

Michael Neser strikes in his first Test over! 🔥🔥#Ashespic.twitter.com/Hl7QsmA37u

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 17, 2021

Neser waited so long for his baggy green; he gets his first Test wicket second ball! Bizarre from Hameed, bunting to mid on #Ashes

— Dan-yule Brettig 🎄 (@danbrettig) December 17, 2021

I don’t think I’ve seen the entire Australian team so delighted for one of their own. Michael Neser, what a story. The heartbeat of the team, always the fringe dweller, finally takes centre stage. #Ashes

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) December 17, 2021

“As an international opener you cannot afford to give your wicket away,” former England opener Alastair Cook said on BT Sport.

“Getting caught at mid-on with an hour to go when your team is up against it is not ideal.“

The Australian team swamped Neser as the fired-up Adelaide spectators went berserk in the stands.

“That is special, look at that,” former Test batter Greg Blewett said on Channel 7. “That is pure emotion, his mates are all over him.

“He has waited a long time for his debut. He bowled a very good ball his first ball, a full delivery and he has chipped it straight to mid-on, Mitchell Starc does the rest. That is great emotion.”

Former Australian bowler Jason Gillespie tweeted: “Michael Neser - great start to his test career. Could not happen to a nicer or more deserving bloke.”

Hameed made his way back to the sheds for 6, with England captain replacing him in the middle.

England opener’s horror tour continues

Rory Burns once again elected not to face the opening delivery of England’s innings, presumably still rattled by Mitchell Starc’s famous first-ball yorker at the Gabba.

But it didn’t matter, with Starc knocking over the left-hander in the third over.

The Aussie quick got the ball to deck away from Burns just enough to catch the outside edge, and skipper Steve Smith swallowed the chance at second slip.

“That looked like a beautiful delivery,” former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7. “It wasn’t the really full ball that we were expecting.

“Burns squared up again with that closed bat face.

“Steve Smith – trust me ladies and gentlemen he doesn’t put many down in the slips. Rory Burns‘ nightmare at the start of this series continues.”

The 31-year-old has now registered scores of 0, 13 and 4 in this Ashes series.

England No. 3 Dawid Malan joins opener Haseeb Hameed in the middle.

Starc with the Burns breakthrough again‼️#Ashespic.twitter.com/3PKU2Ck2Hf

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 17, 2021

Australia all out after late pyrotechnics

Australia thrashed its way to 473 runs in a thrilling final session where debutant Michael Neser and Mitchell Starc teed off.

Starc finished not out on 39 from 39 balls, while Neser smashed 35 from just 24 balls.

England had been left in the field for a painful 150 overs before Smith ended the innings with a declaration.

Ben Stokes proved to be the best of the English bowlers, finishing with 3/113.

Michael Neser put together an entertaining knock on debut. Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Smith falls short of Ashes century

After losing three wickets in the first session, Australian captain Steve Smith and gloveman Alex Carey set about rebuilding the side’s innings as the sun dropped over the Adelaide skyline.

The pair combined for a 50-run partnership, with Carey slowly approaching a maiden Test fifty at his home venue.

But, disaster struck just before the dinner break, with veteran seamer James Anderson trapping Smith on the pads on 93. The 32-year-old called for a review, but the Hawkeye technology couldn’t save him on this occasion.

Fox Cricket commentator Isa Guha called it an “agonising” end for Smith, who becomes the second Australian to be dismissed in the 90s this innings – opening batter David Warner scored 95 on Thursday.

Mitchell Starc joined Carey in the middle, and moments later the South Australian wicketkeeper passed 50, reaching the minor milestone in 104 balls.

“It’s the way that he has done it, great intent, looks a natural,” former Australian batter Greg Blewett said on Channel 7.

“He had a great game in Brisbane with the gloves. Missed out a couple of times with the bat up there. But in this Test match, he is contributing with the bat so this will give him great confidence moving forward.”

But in the final delivery before the interval, Carey chipped a catch towards Haseeb Hameed in the covers, giving Anderson his second wicket of the match.

What do you know, another ball hitting the stumps seams back and caretaker captain Smith is gone for 93. Anderson's first #Ashes wicket since January 2018

— Dan-yule Brettig 🎄 (@danbrettig) December 17, 2021

England skipper removes Head

Joe Root has dismissed Gabba centurion Travis Head for 18, bowling the left-hander with a low full toss.

Moments after Head and Australian captain Steve Smith brought up their 50-run partnership, the Redbacks skipper charged down the wicket and swiped at a full delivery from the off-spinner that crashed into leg stump.

West Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was the new player in the middle, but his stay at the crease only lasted five deliveries.

Ben Stokes delivered an absolute peach to Green, that nipped away from the right-hander and struck the top of off stump.

The tall 22-year-old was back in the sheds for 2, his second consecutive single-figure score of the series.

That delivery from Ben Stokes to get Green out is a sign of what England have missed out on by getting him to solely focus on this bouncer strategy #Ashes

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 17, 2021

Drama after Marnus brings up Test century No. 6

He just bats, and bats, and bats.

Australian No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne has brought up his sixth Test century, reaching the milestone at Adelaide Oval in 287 deliveries – the slowest of his career.

It’s his first ton in Ashes cricket, and his second of the calendar year.

Labuschagne also becomes the first cricketer to score three centuries in day-night Test matches – Pakistan’s Asad Shafiq is next best with two.

“Well played young man! Magnificent moment in a young Test career,” former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7.

“He just loves batting, becoming a run-making machine. What this Australian Test team have been yearning for – someone at number three with a rock solid technique that can come in and take control of games like he has right from the start of his Test career!”

A captivating 100 by Marnus Labuschagne 👏 Couldn’t take my eyes off his innings. Brilliant, ugly, gritty, lucky and expressive. A proper test cricket 100 💪#Ashes

— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) December 17, 2021

But soon after, England seamer Ollie Robinson found the outside edge of Labuschagne’s bat with a full delivery that nipped away from the right-hander, and the Queenslander started to make his way back to the pavilion for 102.

However, replays showed that Robinson had fractionally overstepped, and umpires called Labuschagne back to the middle after indicating it had been a no-ball.

Loud jeers echoed around Adelaide Oval when the on-field umpire stuck out his arm. Labuschagne couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

“You’ve got to be kidding me … can you believe it?” Australian great Shane Warne said on Fox Cricket.

Cricket reporter Melinda Farrell posted: “That is an absolute heartbreaker for England.”

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂#Ashespic.twitter.com/gaGW1eVush

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) December 17, 2021

That’s it. Just bring them home. It’s cruel not to. #ashes

— Jack Blackburn (@HackBlackburn) December 17, 2021

England. That is awful. #ashes

— Chris Mitchell (@chrismbbcsport) December 17, 2021

England legend Ian Botham was furious on Channel 7’s coverage: “I don‘t think it’s luck. I think it’s poor, poor bowling.

“You do not have to push the line like this, it’s ridiculous. You should be half and half at most. The problem is, these guys go and bowl in the nets and they bowl from 16 -17 yards and when it comes out here, they get it wrong. This is not the first time in this Test series, if they keep on pushing the line, it won’t be the last.”

Robinson eventually got his man in the 98th over, trapping Labuschagne on the front pad to get the long-awaited breakthrough for England.

A review couldn’t save the Australian No. 3, whose marathon knock ended on 103.

Gabba centurion Travis Head joined Smith in the middle, with the hosts 3/251 at the drinks break.

‘Poor bloke’: England gloveman’s ‘unfathomable’ miss

Marnus Labuschagne was riding his luck on day one of the Adelaide Test, with the Australia No. 3 offering a handful of chances in the field throughout his 275-ball marathon.

But England cricket fans were tearing their hair out when wicketkeeper Jos Buttler spilt a regulation chance in the closing 30 minutes of play on Thursday.

Veteran seamer James Anderson bowled a short delivery outside off stump, which Labuschagne looked to punch through cover-point.

The thick outside edge flew at a catchable height to Buttler, who somehow grassed a catch he would have taken 99.9 per cent of the time.

A thunderous roar of disbelief echoed around the venue when replays were shown on the big screens, but nobody was more shocked at the missed chance than Buttler himself.

Jos Buttler of England. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“You’ve got to feel sorry for him,” former Australian batter Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.

“He’s looked down on confidence and energy all day. That’s a killer blow, another regulation catch.

“Just a bit late on his footwork, been a long day, long night.”

Former Australian speedster Brett Lee continued: “That’s a dolly. His head wasn’t near the ball – and you can see the frustration.

“He’s one of the world’s nicest guys and it’s the worst feeling in the world to drop a catch.”

Earlier in the day, Buttler took a screamer down the leg-side to remove opener Marcus Harris for 3.

“He‘s a batsman-wicketkeeper, rather than a wicketkeeper-batsman and sometimes you pay if you haven’t got an absolute specialist keeping,” former Test spinner Kerry O’Keeffe explained on Fox Cricket.

“But England want his runs at number seven and they’ll say his keeping is adequate.”

It's been another good day for Australia. #Ashespic.twitter.com/Jj01crwNsd

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 16, 2021

That’s as easy a wicketkeeper catch as you will ever see. Unfathomable that Buttler dropped that.

— Rudi Edsall (@RudiEdsall) December 16, 2021

Poor bugger. Takes a classic early - an absolutely amazing catch - and keeps well all day ... other than dropping Marnus twice. Poor bloke. #Ashes

— Andrew Faulkner (@AndrewFaulkner9) December 16, 2021