Ashes: David Warner Suffers THIS Horror Fate at Home in Hobart Pink Ball Test vs England

The Hobart Ashes Pink Ball Test is proving to be a boon for bowlers and a nightmare for batsmen. No one felt this nightmare more acutely than David Warner. After starting off with knocks of 94 and 95 in Brisbane and Adelaide, Warner’s Ashes has gone totally pair-shaped. After being dismissed for a 22-ball duck, Warner was dismissed for 0 in the second innings of just three balls. To make matters worse, he fell to Stuart Broad for the 14^th time in his career.

Warner cut a shortish ball to backward point where Ollie Pope dived to his right to take a good catch. Having dismissed him in Sydney, Broad now has dismissed Warner in Hobart. This is the second time in his career that Warner has been out for a pair. Incidentally, the first time he was dismissed for a pair was in the 2019 Manchester Ashes Test. In both the innings, he was dismissed for 0 by Broad. In the first innings, he had him caught, and in the second, he was LBW. The Hobart first innings saw Warner edge Ollie Robinson behind.

Read – Dropping David Warner from Sunrisers Not a Cricket Decision: Brad Haddin

Australia Still In Control of Hobart Ashes Test Despite David Warner Pair

Despite David Warner falling for a pair, Australia was still in control of the Hobart Pink Ball Ashes Test. The day did not start well for them as they lost two quick wickets for six runs. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins were dismissed cheaply. But, Nathan Lyon took the attack to Mark Wood by hammering two sixes off the bowler. Lyon’s big hits and Alex Carey’s resistance saw Australia near 300. But, Carey fell to Chris Woakes for 24 and at 280/9, it seemed Australia would not make it.

But, Scott Boland and Lyon shared a 23-run stand to help Australia cross 300. With the pitch still assisting the pace bowlers, Australia had their tail up. Rory Burns, who has endured a tough Ashes, was run-out for zero by Marnus Labuschagne as England made a terrible start. Zak Crawley looked in good touch but he was undone by a superb ball from Pat Cummins.

Dawid Malan and Joe Root then shared a partnership that was almost worth fifty. Both players negotiated the tough period and managed to put England right back on track. But, Cummins struck again. He forced Malan to edge a ball to Alex Carey while Root was trapped plumb in front for 34.

England continue to lose wickets

When Mitchell Starc sent back Ben Stokes for 4, Australia dreamt of taking a big lead. Ollie Pope and Sam Billings took England past 100, with Billings looking in good touch with a couple of fours. But, England’s tendency of losing wickets in bunches hurt them hard yet again. The inability to also stitch partnerships also dented them. Pope was dismissed but Chris Woakes counter-attacked.

He was dropped on five by Usman Khawaja off the bowling of Boland and he hurt Australia slightly. Woakes hit a boundary off Boland and smashed Cameron Green for a big six. But, Billings was snapped up for 29 as Australia’s bowlers had a go at England’s tail. Woakes continued the counter-attack with two fours off Cummins but Mitchell Starc broke through, sending back Woakes for 36 with a leg-side strangle. Starc then dismissed Broad and Wood was sent back by Cummins to give Australia a lead of 115.

On this wicket, already 17 wickets have fallen. A target in excess of 250 or 300 might be impossible to chase.