Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - Labuschagne, Warner turn on the attack against luckless England. David Warner compiled a gritty fifty in the morning session
David Warner compiled a gritty fifty in the morning session
Under powdery blue skies, a far cry from what England had hoped to be operating under after being rolled over for 147, Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner put on a century stand for the second wicket as Australia continued to land the punches on the second morning of the Brisbane Ashes Test.
The dominant hosts moved to within 34 runs of England's total but what the numbers will not convey is how good England's bowlers were for a majority of the extended morning session before they were put to the sword in the final hour.
The Gabba surface, true to form, played quicker on Day 2 and continued to offer lateral movement off the seam. Ollie Robinson struck an early blow by dismissing Marcus Harris using his patented angle across the left-hander and forcing him to nick a ball from off-stump for a sharp catch at third slip from Dawid Malan.
Joe Root moved into attack, quickly bringing on his pace trump card Mark Wood for his first burst. In his first over, the speedster breached the 150kph mark and had Warner and new man Labuschagne hopping. Several plays and misses ensued as Australia's batting pair tried to see their way out of the early hostilities.
The defining moment of the session though played out during the next bowling change when Ben Stokes came on and bowled Warner with an inswinger off his fourth ball only to have been told that he'd overstepped.
As it turned out, the Channel 7 broadcast later revealed that each of his first three deliveries had also been foot faults that were not called by the third umpire Paul Wilson. Incidentally, as the technology is down, they have gone back to the old system of the on-field umpire asking the third-umpire in the event of a doubt. The 3rd umpire is then checking the broadcast feed to adjudicate. And that is the reason why the initial three no-balls of the over weren't called.
Warner, then on 17, began growing into his innings. His partner, Labuschagne, did the same after earning a mini-reprieve himself when a genuine edge off Chris Woakes fell just short of Joe Root at first slip, who'd stationed himself a bit too deep.
A wicket denied, Stokes produced a loose second spell, giving away 15 from two overs and forced Root's hands into bringing on the lone spinner, Jack Leach into the attack. The pressure valve had been released with both batters intent on not letting the left-arm spinner settle. After giving away just 1 run from his first over, Leach was taken for 30 from his next two with Warner hitting him over his head for a pair of sixes. Labuschagne added one of his own and got to his half-century before the break with his partner one short of his own.
Brief scores: Australia 113/1 (Marnus Labuschagne 53*, David Warner 49*; Ollie Robinson 1-19) trail England 147 by 34 runs
