Anderson ‘gutted’ for Curran after noball takes away maiden Test scalp

A Boxing Day Test debut that promised the elation of a key wicket for Tom Curran went sour in the space of two deliveries as the rookie England paceman had David Warner caught on 99 with a no-ball.

Surrey seamer Curran, who replaced the injured Craig Overton in Joe Root’s team, had pinned down Warner after lunch on Day One at a heaving MCG, eventually coaxing the pugnacious opener into a clumsy pullshot that was caught at mid-on.

James Anderson limited the damage by having Warner caught behind for 103, but Curran finished his first day wicketless for 44 and Australia marched to 244/3 and a position of strength at stumps. “I was gutted for him,” Anderson said.

“It was hard to watch really seeing the elation in his face, then watch it drained from his face seconds later when the big screen showed his foot came over the line. It’s one of those things, you’ve got to learn the hard way and unfortunately for him it’s on debut at the Boxing Day Test match so I’m sure he’ll be behind the line from now on.”

Warner’s wicket put Anderson on 519 Test scalps, equal fifth on the all-time list with West Indies pace great Courtney Walsh. But it was a mostly frustrating day for he and his fellow quicks on a flat and slow MCG wicket.

The drop-in pitch usually offers something for the bowlers in the first morning but proved to be a feather-bed for Australia, whose openers marched to 102 without loss at lunch after captain Steve Smith won the toss and opted to bat.

England rallied well to take two wickets and restrict Australia to 43 runs in the second session but Anderson felt the 88,172 spectators had been shortchanged by the pitch.