Cricket-Warner, Labuschagne thwart England after Cummins jolt
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[December 16, 2021] By
Richard Evans
ADELAIDE (Reuters) -David Warner fell short of his century but
Marnus Labuschagne remained on course for a hundred as they put
Australia, missing regular skipper Pat Cummins, in a strong position
against England in the day-night second Ashes test on Thursday.
Australia finished day one on 221-2 despite being jolted before the
start of the match at Adelaide Oval with Cummins forced out after
being identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
With five overs remaining, Jos Buttler dropped a regulation catch
off the bowling of James Anderson to offer a reprieve to Labuschagne,
who remained not out on 95.
Australia's stand-in skipper Steve Smith was on 18, becoming his
country’s third captain - after Tim Paine and Cummins - in the last
three tests.
England dominated the first session though they blew two reviews
trying to get Warner, who made 95, dismissed.
Stuart Broad, recalled along with Anderson, removed Marcus Harris
for three runs early on via a cracking catch from Buttler as a
stuttering Australia failed to convince.
The first 10 overs yielded just 11 runs but slowly, the scorecard
began to firm up with Warner, having recovered from bruised ribs
incurred in the first test, forging a 172-run stand with
Labuschagne.
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England's Stuart
Broad REUTERS/Morgan Sette
But as England captain Joe Root brought himself
into the attack to provide rest to his quicks, Warner appeared eager
to up his scoring rate, an approach adopted equally by Labuschagne.
Broad proved Warner's nemesis once more but this time as catcher,
holding onto a slashed shot at cover off Ben Stokes.
England did not bowl badly but their five-man seam attack looked
increasingly insipid as solid containment gave way to more hurried
scoring from Australia before 32,328 fans at Adelaide Oval.
For Australia, pace bowler Michael Neser made his test debut
replacing Cummins.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Toby Davis)
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