David Warner’s batting struggles in England continue in lacklustre Lord’s return
Just days after mocking Joe Root's Ashes record, David Warner's return to Lord's has ended in humiliation with a quick dismissal.
David Warner’s awkward relationship with batting in England continued after a flop in his debut innings in The Hundred in his first outing at Lord’s since the controversial 2023 Ashes.
Just days after Warner reinstated himself as public enemy No.1 for English cricket fans by declaring superstar batter Joe Root would need to “take the surfboard off his front leg” to get his first Ashes hundred in Australia in this summer, he was out for just nine batting for the London Spirit.
Warner was signed on a $205,000 contract to join the team that plays at Lord’s, where he was confronted by livid MCC members after Alex Carey’s run out of Jonny Bairstow during the 2023 Ashes.
He lasted just 10 balls in his return outing as the Spirit was thrashed by Oval Invincibles.
Despite his angst-filled last appearance at Lord’s, there was no obvious display of antagonism from the crowd when Warner went out to open the batting.
But England has never been a happy hunting ground for Warner, who failed to make an Ashes century in the UK.
In the 2019 series, he returned the lowest amount of runs (79) by an opening batter in a five-match Test series, finishing the series with a batting average of just 9.50.
Warner, 38, is among a raft of big names lured by higher paydays to the competition, with Steve Smith also involved, picking up a $246,000 contract with the Welsh Fire.
In the earlier match, Australian slugger Grace Harris hit a competition record-equalling six sixes in her 42-ball innings of 89 not out to get the Spirit’s women’s team a win despite former national captain Meg Lanning also smashing five sixes as she made 85 off 51 balls for the Invincibles.
