David Warner’s concerning run of subpar Test scores has continued, dismissed for a shock first-ball duck on Saturday after a nasty Kagiso Rabada delivery and an epic catch at short leg in a chaotic start to Australia’s first innings.
The Australian opener, who’s been in the headlines of late after the recent reopening of Cape Town wounds amid a near three-year Test century drought, was caught off-guard by Rabada’s opening delivery at the Gabba. Warner took his eye off a rising bouncer, with the ball ballooning to bat-pad fielder Khaya Zondo, who pulled off a one-handed screamer at full stretch.
It was just the second golden duck of Warner’s Test career, with the other coming against Sri Lanka in January 2013.
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“A wonderful catch in close,” Fox Cricket’s Adam Gilchrist said.
“An immediate strike by South Africa.
“It is just perfection. It certainly didn’t get up as high as I thought and David Warner thought.”
Warner appeared caught in two minds as he jumped and got the ball high off the bat to hand Rabada the first wicket.
“David Warner just took his eye off the ball and he’s paid the price,” commentator Mark Waugh said.
“Nothing’s gone David Warner’s way – he keeps making mistakes and keeps paying a high price.
“It was nasty enough (the Rabada delivery) – but once you take your eye off it, anything can happen.”
The first ball dismissal was the latest in Warner’s recent run of poor form. He was the only top-five Australian batter who failed to make a century against the West Indies in the lead up to this South Africa series.
He’s gone almost three years without posting a Test ton – with his last coming against New Zealand in January 2020.
And in that time, he’s scored just four half centuries in 27 Test innings.
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Fox Cricket expert Isa Gutha said the wicket was “massive” for South Africa, after the visitors posted just 152 in their first innings after being sent in to bat by Aussie skipper Pat Cummins.
“This is what everyone was watching out for all around the world – this battle of Kagiso Rabada against David Warner,” she said.
“He just looked uncomfortable didn’t he David Warner – like he was expecting it to come on a lot quicker than it did come on.”
Warner has been subject to plenty of media attention in recent weeks after he claimed he was being set up for a “public lynching” as he attempted to overturn his leadership ban for ball tampering against South Africa in 2018.
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Warner’s manager then dropped bombshell claims that Cricket Australia officials “told” players to tamper with the ball – a claim CA CEO Nick Hockley labelled “unfounded” and “unhelpful”.
Warner’s wife Candice has also been outspoken in her defence of her husband, and was even offered security for herself and young children due to the abuse she revealed her family had suffered as a result.
