Anderson ‘gutted’ for Curran after noball takes away maiden Test scalp
MELBOURNE: 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. MUMBAI: In his playing days, former Australian spin wizard, Shane Warne was famous for plotting the downfall of opposition batsmen with his astute strategies. It was probably a bit of surprise that Warne didn’t get a chance to captain Australia on a long-term basis.
Warne may have missed showcasing his leadership capabilities in full during his playing days, but if everything goes well for him, he can get a chance to do it again with the Australian cricket team, albeit in a new role of head coach. On the eve of the Boxing Day Test, when the spin legend was asked about succeeding the current Australian coach, Darren Lehmann, he appeared keen to taking up the baton from his former teammate.
“I’ve always been open to (coaching) any country, but obviously I would love to coach Australia – not coach Australia but be part of the Australian set-up if they needed it,” Warne was quoted as saying by Wide World of Sports.
Warne said his decision would, though, depend on time. “We’ve got so many good coaches around, so many good batting coaches, bowling coaches and people on offer. So, if the opportunity ever arose yeah, look, maybe interested, for sure. It just all depends on the time. If Boof (Lehmann) has had enough, maybe he’ll say ‘Do you want to have a go’, I’ll have a crack,” he said.
Darren Lehmann won’t renew his contract when it expires at the end of 2019. Lehmann told Fox Sports television in an interview Monday: “That will be it.it will be a case of too much time, too much travel. For me, I’ve had a great time and really enjoyed the role, and (I’m) loving it still.”
The former Test batsman last year extended his contract until October 2019, and says he won’t seek a new deal. His final year in charge will include Australia’s title defence at the one-day international World Cup and then an Ashes series.
COACHING NOTHING NEW FOR WARNE
Coaching responsibilities are not new to Shane Warne. After retiring from international cricket in 2007 following a 5-0 annihilation of England at home in the Ashes, he acted as a mentor to Australian cricket team ahead of their World T20 campaign in Bangladesh in 2014. Warne also acted as captain-cum-coach for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he lead the less-fancied side to crowning glory in the inaugural season in 2008. Among the contenders to succeed Lehmann are current assistant coach David Saker and WA head coach Justin Langer.