New Delhi:
David Warner endured a terrible run in the Ashes 2019 contest against England. His tally of 95 runs in the five Tests, including one knock of 61, was his lowest in a series. Warner was dismissed eight times by Stuart Broad in the series and the England pacer left him clueless at the end of the series. However, in the Sheffield Shield, Warner roared back to form with a magnificent century for New South Wales in the clash against Queensland at The Gabba. In the same match, there was an unbelievable event in which Steve Smith, who hammered 774 runs in the series at an average of 110, fell for 0.
While this was Warner's first century in First Class cricket after two years, this was Smith's first duck in first-class cricket ever since November 2016, when he was dismissed for zero in the Perth Test against South Africa. In the Ashes, Smith smashed two centuries in the same Test in Edgbaston and smashed a double century in Manchester as Australia played out a drawn series in England for the first time in 47 years.
Queensland were blown away by Harry Conway by taking 5/17 and it took Marnus Labuschagne's 69 to boost Queensland to 153. In response, New South Wales were left reeling at 54/4 with Smith being dismissed for zero by Cameron Gannon. However, Warner shared a partnership of 147 with Nicholas Bertus, who chipped in with 53. The partnership, combined with Warner's brilliant century, helped New South Wales take a lead of 135 runs. Queensland batted better in the second innings with Joe Burns scoring a fifty. Labuschagne was unbeaten on 48 and they had taken a 51-run lead.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo after the end of the day's play, Warner said he tried to forget the 2019 Ashes series as much as he could. "What can you do? If it's in your first 10 balls and you get a good one, you can't do anything. I know when I'm on when I'm playing the little back-foot punch and pull. Knowing that, and playing that today, I was very pleased," Warner said.
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Australia's next Test assignment will be against Pakistan in November and there are apparently two or three batting spots up for grabs as they look to get their Test campaign at home off to a good start.
