Lunch Australia 71 for 2 (Warner 42*, Clarke 0*) v England
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Stuart Broad received the hostile welcome he knew was inevitable at the Gabba but, at lunch on the first morning of the Ashes series, he left the field with an air of satisfaction. He carried England's challenge with wickets at both ends of the session, Chris Rogers in his second over and Shane Watson in the last over before the break, as England curbed a confident Australia start.
Australia's captain, Michael Clarke, found himself resisting an attacking field from Broad for the last three balls of the session when he might have anticipated taking lunch in more relaxed circumstances. David Warner was at his most dependable in reaching the interval with 42 to his name but Watson did not quite accompany him to the end of the session, deceived by a hint of late movement to edge to Graeme Swann at second slip.
The Gabba has been noisier, it has certainly been more impassioned, but as the morning progressed a sense of quiet satisfaction permeated the ground. The vilification, predictably, was reserved for Broad but even that abuse was restricted to boos as his name was announced and a couple of desultory and unimaginative chants.
Brisbane's regional paper, in a fake show of disgust, is refusing to refer to Broad by name throughout the Test. Suitably, Broad, appointed as the Man With No Name, went about his work with the stony expression of Clint Eastwood in the film so titled, communicating that there was serious business to attend to.
England would have been grateful for a ball change a few overs earlier. It was Broad who pursued it, and won it. Another low trick, one wonders?
Broad accounted for Rogers in his second over; Rogers had only made a single when he was caught off the splice by Ian Bell in the gully.
The weather in Brisbane was set fair and so, almost but not quite, were Australia. They had not been short of confident predictions ahead of the return series and they sorely needed to back it up with a confident start.
It was a good toss for Clarke, to win. A few lonely clouds hung around blue skies to no great purpose and, although the pitch had decent bounce and carry, and enough moisture to give England hope, there was not the sideways movement they might have anticipated.
It was a tight contest, with England restoring control after an initial flurry by Warner. The restructuring of Warner's game is central to Australia's challenge and, with four centuries to his name this season, he was at his most orderly. He did allow himself a more aggressive opening statement, responding to Broad's first delivery - perhaps unintentionally short as his front foot slipped in the crease - by pulling it resoundingly in front of square. Battle was joined, too, with James Anderson as he drove him fulsomely then edged short of gully.
England opted for Chris Tremlett as their third seamer, a show of faith after an indifferent county season and Matt Prior was fit to resume his wicketkeeping role after a calf injury. Tremlett was cut to the boards by Watson in his first over, but although he did not carry much threat both he and Graeme Swann succeeded in giving England the control they craved.
England's biggest scare came for Anderson 20 minutes before lunch. It is a new outfield and Anderson's attempts to slide on it to deny Warner a boundary through midwicket resulted in a huge divot tearing from the turf. Memories of Simon Jones' injury when his knee dug into the Brisbane turf on the opening day of the 2002-03 tour briefly flared, but whereas Jones' tour - and almost his career - ended in an instant, Anderson brushed the mud from his trousers and rose to his feet, relieved to have suffered no permanent damage. That "no diving" orders would go out to the bowlers at lunch seemed inevitable.
Earlier, George Bailey became Australia's 436th Test cap and was presented with the Baggy Green before start of play by a former captain, Mark Taylor. Only four players remained from Australia's first Test of last summer against South Africa. There was enough for Australia in the session to bring hopes among home supporters that this rebuilt XI can make it a contest.
Broad silences early boos
This article
Broad silences early boos
can be opened in url
http://naturalherbmedic.blogspot.com/2013/11/broad-silences-early-boos.html
Broad silences early boos
