David Warner didn’t make life any easier for himself amid the off-field furore surrounding the opener, while West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite came under fire for some terrible tactics.
Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne continued his brilliant form with a third straight century for the series as Travis Head and Usman Khawaja provided solid support.
Read on for the key Talking Points from Day 1 at the Adelaide Oval.
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Every boundary from Labuschagne 100 | 02:23
WARNER PRESSURE GROWS
Searching for a drought-breaking big score in Adelaide, David Warner didn’t make life any easier for himself on Wednesday.
The timing of an explosive statement, in which he announced he would no longer try to have his leadership ban overturned and accused the review panel of trying to create a “public lynching”, on the eve of the second Test was a bold move.
Bolder still was his manager James Erskine levelling bombshell allegations against CA — which can be read in full here — while Warner was at the crease.
Whether it was intentional for Warner’s statement, and Erskine’s comments, to line up with the second Test is unclear, but it certainly raises eyebrows.
After all, what better time is there to make a splash than the night before, and the day of, a home Test match?
Warner’s complicated relationship with CA now threatens to unravel in public over the coming days, weeks, and, no doubt, years.
But so, too, could Warner’s Test career that has seemingly stalled at the same time that he warned he could soon give the format away.
Warner said he could be in the final 12 months of his Test career. It will be interesting to see if a form slump — or any backlash to his statement or Erskine’s comments for that matter — accelerates that.
Meanwhile, Warner has not made a Test century since his unbeaten 111 against New Zealand in January 2020. Before that, there were two centuries against a weak Pakistan outfit in the same summer, while you have to go back to December 2017 for his next Test century.
On Thursday, the drought extended after yet another false stroke well outside off-stump. This time he was dismissed for 21 by Alzarri Joseph who found just enough extra bounce to hit the left-hander’s outside edge.
Speaking of Warner’s century drought, Mike Hussey told foxsports.com.au: “I think it plays on anyone’s mind when you haven’t got runs for a while. It definitely plays on your mind.
“I know every innings that goes past you’re hoping it’s the next one. Sometimes the pressure builds on you a little bit.
Cummins’ take on the Warner vs. CA saga | 00:46
“But he’s a pretty confident guy, he’s got a lot of experience so I don’t think it will be an issue necessarily in his own head — but I think he’s human and it does play on your mind.”
Warner has been repeatedly dismissed this summer after being tempted into a big slash outside off stump. There has been some bad luck along the way, but his wickets have been largely avoidable nonetheless.
Hussey was eager to give credit to Joseph, however, who set Warner up in a well-executed over.
“They used the short ball quite well to him. He played it okay, but they’re just trying to push his weight back and then they throw the full wide one and see if they can draw him into a shot, which they’ve had some success doing,” Hussey said.
“He still hit a couple nice cover drives so I’m not sure it’s a massive issue but you just wonder I guess if that short ball is on his mind. Only he can answer that.”
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Rod Marsh honoured at Adelaide Oval | 00:39
MARNUS IS UNSTOPPABLE
Before the Adelaide Test got underway on Thursday afternoon, the ICC confirmed that Marnus Labuschagne had reclaimed his title as the world’s No. 1 Test batter.
And the Australian run-scoring machine quickly proved why he deserved the accolade on day one of the day-night contest.
Labuschagne compiled a classy 120 not out at Adelaide Oval to continue his remarkable run of form in Australian whites, pushing his Test batting average up to 61.81.
The Queenslander took advantage of the slow wicket, patiently biding his time before accelerating in the middle session and targeting the West Indies part-timers.
He didn’t muster a boundary during his first 65 deliveries at the crease, but runs started flowing freely after the dinner break.
Having scored a century and double-century during last week’s series opener in Perth, Labuschagne currently averages 428.00 against the West Indies in Tests.
Labuschagne’s numbers on Australian soil are even more impressive – eight of his nine Test centuries have been scored at home, where he averages 76.34, a figure bettered only by Sir Donald Bradman.
If Labuschagne can replicate this form in India and England next year, it’s fair to say he should be considered one of Test’s cricket’s modern greats.
“I think what’s impressed me today is how he sticks to his plans and his process out there,” Hussey said.
“He’s coming off a double hundred and a 100 not out, he could’ve very easily come out and pretend he’s on 100 not out again. But no, he started again, he was very patient, he was very disciplined early. He let a lot of balls go and did the Marnus things that we’re used to seeing. And the result sort of takes care of itself.
“That takes a pretty strong mind to be able to do that, especially when you’re in such good touch. He’s probably seeing the ball clearly and other players would want to go at it but he just starts his innings again. He starts on zero, starts up that whole process again which is pretty impressive.”
Labuschagne has been unstoppable against the West Indies, who were hampered by injury woes in Adelaide, but the South African pace attack is expected to pose a bigger threat later this summer.
Proteas captain Dean Elgar has already identified that the best strategy for bowling to Labuschagne includes “the odd bouncer”.
“He is one of the form batters in the world and I am sure there is going to be a little bit of extra spice knowing he is ex-South African as well,” Elgar told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.
“He is a human being and is also prone to fail as well, which hopefully plays into our hands.”
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WINDIES TACTICS GO AWRY
Some things were simply out of the West Indies’ control on Thursday. Debutant Marquino Mindley walked off the field with an injury concern after two overs, while the pink Kookaburra offered little swing and seam movement in the afternoon.
But the visitors were accused of several tactical errors on the first day of the Adelaide Test that quickly put them in a position where victory was almost impossible.
Just before the dinner break, former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian was particularly critical of West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite using six bowlers during the first session, including spinner Roston Chase as first change.
“I don’t think there has been clear enough direction from Kraigg Brathwaite,” Julian said on Fox Cricket.
“There has been too many changes. Bowlers bowling at different ends. Spinner on early.
“That is unsettling for the side, especially the first session and the first hour of a Test match.
“You lose the toss and you are bowling. You have tried all those bowlers. I mean it has only been an hour-and-a-half.
“You can’t do it. It has been all over the shop.”
Chase, who was given a deep square leg and deep point for protection on the boundary rope, leaked 20 runs from his first three overs of the match, as the Australians rotated the strike with ease.
“That’s rubbish,” former Test batter Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“That’s not good enough.
“He should not be bowling now.”
The West Indies managed to briefly shift momentum back in their favour in the middle session by removing Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in quick succession.
Brathwaite followed up by bowling off-spinners from each end, allowing Labuschagne and Travis Head to settle and rebuild, eventually combining for a century partnership for the fourth wicket.
“It is rubbish bowling,” former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said on Channel 7.
“They’ve just given away 30 runs.
“They built the pressure up … and then going into the tea break they’re happy to give 30 or 40 runs away.”
Ahead of the pink-ball Test, West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick hinted that Labuschagne would be targeted with short-pitched bowling in Adelaide after paceman Joseph ruffled his feathers in the series opener at Perth Stadium.
But bouncers were few and far between on Thursday, much to Waugh’s frustration.
“I don’t understand why we haven’t seen any short-pitched sustained attack,” Waugh said.
“I don’t think the West Indies have got their tactics right all day.”
After taking the second new ball, the West Indies pacemen repeatedly bowled wide of the stumps to centurion Travis Head, who had no problem smacking the ball through point.
They rarely taregtted the stumps with the fresh Kookaburra, which also raised eyebrows in the commentary box.
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‘Told to do it!’ – Aus ordered to cheat? | 03:58
BIG HAZLEWOOD CONCERN FOR AUSSIES
Of course, it wasn’t all good news for Australia on day one.
Josh Hazlewood was kept out of the action with a minor side strain – the same thing which kept him out of four of last summer’s five Ashes Tests.
With all due respect to the West Indies, the loss of Hazlewood won’t exactly prove to be a big blow for Australia in Adelaide. The nation has already retained the Frank-Worrell Trophy, and there’s no reason to believe that Michael Neser won’t do a fine job as his late replacement.
With a short turn around before the first Test against South Africa, however, there is still reason for Australia to be concerned.
South Africa is expected to be a far sterner Test for the Australians with the two nations facing off for the first time with the red ball since Sandpapergate.
Elgar predicted it will be a feisty affair. One thing is for sure, Australia would be better off with the skill and Test experience of Hazlewood heading into the three-Test series.
Nonetheless, Australia remains well placed thanks to the embarrassment of fast bowling riches at its disposal.
Even with Pat Cummins also on the sidelines, Australia can call on Scott Boland, who has a Test average of 9.55, and Michael Neser, who has a first class average of 23.82.
“Of course it’s big (Hazlewood missing) … but I think where Australia is lucky is that there’s a fair bit of depth there now,” Hussey told foxsports.com.au. “To have the quality of someone like Scott Boland to just come in is pretty handy.
“And then there’s a few other guys knocking on the door as well. Neser, Lance Morris, who has done well for WA, (Mark) Steketee who has done well for Queensland. Even Sean Abbott has been around the Test team in the past as well.
“It’s a big loss but the positive there’s a fair bit of depth there to come in who can all do a good job.”
Healy thanks Warner for ‘saving cricket’ | 03:05
KHAWAJA’S MAGICAL 2022
Usman Khawaja’s special 2022 got that bit better on Thursday with the left-hander passing 1,000 runs for the calendar year.
With Warner struggling, Australia can count itself lucky that Khawaja has found himself back at the top of the order and firing.
He only earnt a recall in January due to Travis Head’s Covid diagnosis for the Sydney Test, in which Khawaja struck back-to-back centuries.
And the runs have continued to flow since – even if Khawaja will feel like he left plenty out there in Adelaide.
Khawaja made his second score worth more than 60 this series before he was narrowly trapped lbw by Devon Thomas.
The runs took him up to 1,021 for the calendar year at an incredible average of 85.08, leaving him behind only Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow.
Root has played four more Tests than Khawaja at the time of writing, and Bairstow one more, while neither are averaging more than 70.
It’s clear that Khawaja’s return to the Australian Test whites isn’t a mere flash in the pan, but something more long-lasting, despite his age of 35.
Trying to hold down a spot in Australia’s XI was once a major stress for Khawaja but now he’s a man at ease, content with whatever his professional future holds.
Proof of that is the fact he went to bed at midnight and didn’t wake up until 11am on day one, Khawaja told Fox Cricket. And while he’s playing this Test series, he has enough mental power in reserve to revise for an economics exam, which he’s taking soon after it’s over.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith confessed on Wednesday that he still struggles to sleep a wink during a Test match while thinking about batting.
One thing Khawaja and Smith do share in common, however, is that they are going to lead Australia’s Test batting order for some time yet.
