Starc takes six as Azam narrowly misses century
- by Grant Boone
- in Sports
- — Dec 2, 2019
Fast bowler Usman Shinwari on Sunday revealed that he had challenged his friend and leg-spinner Yasir Shah to display his batting prowess in Australia when the two faced each other in a domestic match before the Test series Down Under. The left-handed batsman, though, had the flawless opportunity to go past 400 and break Brian Lara's record of highest individual score in the longest format.
But it still marked a turning point in the beleaguered Warner's comeback from a ball tampering scandal that left him, former captain Steve Smith and rookie Cameron Bancroft suspended from the global game.
Candice was in the stands the day before with their daughters Ivy Mae, five, and Indi Rae, three watching on before spending some time with David when rain interrupted play. Despite being one of the most experienced cricketers in the series, he had a series to forget.
Fans were agitated at Tim Paine's decision to declare the Australian innings, depriving David Warner of the opportunity to slam 400 considering the way he has been playing.
Babar Azam was on 43, with tailender Yasir Shah on four, the pair facing an improbable rescue mission.
Reflecting on the innings, Warner said he had wanted to "make a statement" in the wake of his poor Ashes tour.
'But it's just being disciplined.
"I was trying to perform at my best even the last time I came here", Yasir said.
It comes in his first matches back at home for Australia since the ball- tampering scandal and subsequent 12-month ban. Warner received a standing ovation from the dressing room and from the fans at Adelaide. The hosts were far from flawless on Sunday, missing six chances to remove spinner Yasir Shah in the field.
Warner's tally for the global summer is now a ridiculous 776 runs at 388 after flying through the Twenty20 series and scoring a century in the first Test at the Gabba.
However, for the second test in succession, he was reprieved by a no-ball from a debutant paceman.
"I still can't understand why the 16-year-old hasn't played this game, Naseem", Ponting said.
Opener Warner, who made 154 in Australia's dominant victory in the series opener, surpassed Don Bradman's highest Test score by a single run in an historic performance on day two of the second rubber. Mitchell Starc switched ends and reaped instant benefits: he first extracted Babar to pick up another five-for, courtesy a one-handed stunner from Paine, and then got rid of Shaheen Afridi, catching him plumb in front of the stumps.
Warner's magic test continued in the field when he took a sharp catch at third slip to remove opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was out for two edging Starc.
Steve Smith became the fastest batsman to score 7000 runs in the longest format of the game.