MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Australian opener David Warner posted his first century of the series when he was given an extraordinary reprieve after being caught on 99 on the first day of the fourth Ashes test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Warner was furious with himself as he started to trudge from the field thinking he had blown his chance of making a Boxing Day hundred when he was caught by Stuart Broad at mid-on only to be recalled when television replays showed the bowler Tom Curran had overstepped the crease for a no-ball.
Given a second chance, the left-handed Warner flicked the next ball square of the wicket for a single to post the 21st test century of his career, and the relief was clear as he leapt into the air and kissed the Australian crest on his helmet.
Australia’s David Warner celebrates scoring a century against England during their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Warner’s joy was short lived as he departed soon after for 103 but not before he had helped put Australia into a strong position.
At tea on the opening day, the home team was 145 for two with Usman Khawaja 10 not out and the Australian captain Steve Smith unbeaten on five.
After failing to take any wickets and giving up more than 100 runs in the morning session, England fought back strongly after lunch, dismissing Cameron Bancroft for 26 then adding the prized scalp of Warner as Australia managed only 43 runs in the middle session.
Warner and Bancroft had put on 122 for the opening wicket after Smith won the toss for the first time in the series and elected to bat first, safe in the knowledge that the Ashes were already secure after Australia easily won each of the first three tests in the five-match series.
The drop-in pitch initially offered little assistance to England’s bowlers, allowing Warner and Bancroft plenty of time to settle in before accelerating the run-rate in front of an estimated crowd of around 90,000.
By his own high standards, Warner has had a lean series to date, making just one-half century in the first three tests, but the 31-year-old was in ominous touch from the moment he took strike.
He smashed Moeen Ali straight over his head for six in the last over before lunch to go to the interval on 83 and continued his spree after the interval, hitting a total of 13 boundaries in his three-hour, 151-ball innings. He eventually fell to a simple catch behind to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off Jimmy Anderson.
It was Anderson’s 519th test wicket, enabling him to join West Indian Courtney Walsh in fifth place on the all-time list.
Bancroft, playing in just his third test, was content to let his senior partner dominate the scoring, striking just two fours in his patient 95-ball knock before he was trapped leg before wicket by Chris Woakes.
Khawaja was also cautious when he came out to bat, taking an hour to get to double figures as England’s bowlers succeeded in drying up the runs.
Australia went into the match without left-handed fast bowler Mitchell Starc, the leading wicket-taker in the series. Starc was ruled out because of a bruised right foot and replaced by Jackson Bird, who hasn’t played a test for 12 months.
England also made one change with Curran selected to make his test debut, replacing Craig Overton, who has a fractured rib.
Curran, 22, has played a one-day international and three Twenty20 matches for England, and was only added to England’s Ashes squad when Steve Finn was ruled out at the start of the tour due to injury.
He bowled nine tidy overs and conceded 23 runs after nearly getting Warner’s wicket.
Australia’s David Warner hits a single to score his century against England during their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Australia’s Cameron Bancroft bats against England during their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Australia’s Cameron Bancroft, left hits England’s Tom Curran, right for four during their Ashes cricket test match in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
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