George Dobell reports at the end of the first session of the Boxing Day Test (0:48)
Tea Australia 2 for 145 (Khawaja 10*, Smith 5*) v England
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David Warner survived being caught off no-ball on 99 to score his second century in consecutive Boxing Day Tests, but England’s fast bowlers toiled manfully to claw back some ground in the second session against Australia at the MCG. After Steven Smith won the toss for the first time in a Test since the tour of India in March, Australia moved along to 2 for 145 at tea, with Smith at the crease on 5 and Usman Khawaja on 10.
However, Australia’s run tally reduced significantly after lunch; they had cruised to 0 for 102 in the opening session, but added only 43 runs between lunch and tea for the loss of both openers, Warner and Cameron Bancroft. The dismissal of Warner, who edged behind off James Anderson for 103, was something of an anti-climax after what had happened four runs earlier.
Warner had been stuck in the nineties for some time, unable to break England’s ring field, when he skied a short-arm pull off the debutant seamer Tom Curran, which was caught at mid-on. As soon as he struck the ball, Warner sank almost to his knees in disbelief at throwing his innings away on 99, but England’s celebration was short-lived. The third umpire confirmed that Curran had overstepped, and Warner was reprieved.
Curran joined Mark Wood and Ben Stokes as England cricketers to have been denied a maiden Test wicket due to a no-ball in recent years, and next delivery Warner clipped a single off his hips to bring up his 21st Test century, and his fourth of 2017. Warner’s innings ended seven overs later, as England’s bowlers continued to restrict Australia’s tempo in the middle session.
The day had started with what was unquestionably a good toss to win, for the only thing in the pitch for the bowlers early on was despair. There was little pace or movement, and prior to lunch Warner despatched the ball to all parts of the MCG at will. He was strong when driving through the off side and pulling when the bowlers dropped short, and brought up his half-century from his 64th ball.
Warner finished the session by clubbing a six over long-on off Moeen Ali in the final over to move to 83, but if Warner was speeding down the road of a pitch at the MCG, Bancroft was by comparison a cautious Sunday driver who had forgotten where his accelerator was. He managed only one boundary before lunch, an edged slashed over slips off Curran.
Bancroft was clearly struggling to middle the ball and looked uncomfortable against the short ball, and England’s bowlers worked hard to keep him fending. Soon after lunch, Bancroft’s battle ended when he was lbw to Chris Woakes for 26, which put a halt to Australia’s 122-run opening partnership – of which Warner had scored 96.
The runs continued to dry up and England would have been pleased with their fightback in the session, but plenty of work remained in order to prevent Australia building a big total on a good batting surface.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo