England’s day thanks to Malan, Stoneman
PERTH: English centurion Dawid Malan and plucky Mark Stoneman have produced testbest knocks on a rare day of dominance over Australia.
England was 305 for four at stumps on the opening day of the third test at Perth’s Waca Ground yesterday, after Malan posted a maiden test ton and Stoneman made a halfcentury.
Malan (110 not out) and Stoneman (56) eclipsed their previous highest test scores and only paceman Mitchell Starc (two for 79) took more than one wicket.
England No 6 Jonny Bairstow (75 not out) also blunted Australia’s bowlers, whose main successes came in a brutal burst of shortpitched bowling.
Stoneman copped a fearsome blow on the helmet as Australia’s trio of quicks — Starc, Josh Hazlewood ( one for 62) and Pat Cummins (one for 60) — literally went for the jugular in the middle session.
Hazlewood struck Stoneman with a vicious short ball but the England opener, after receiving medical checks and a fresh helmet, continued batting — and became an unwitting victim in a dayone flashpoint.
Stoneman tried to fend off a headhigh Starc delivery which the Australians maintained brushed a glove en route to wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who leapt high and, at full stretch, caught the ball with one hand.
Umpire Marais Erasmus gave Stoneman not out but the Australians reviewed. One replay appeared to show the ball brushed the English opener’s glove which wasn’t holding the bat.
When replays using noise technology indicated a sound, television umpire Aleem Dar gave Stoneman out.
As Stoneman trudged off, English skipper Joe Root Root appeared at the changing room door and seemingly urged him to stay on the field.
But after initially hesitating, Stoneman walked off — a later
replay from a different angle showed the correct call was made as the ball flicked the opener’s glove which was holding his bat.
Stoneman’s demise left England 131 for four — it had slipped from relative prelunch comfort of 89 for one.
But Malan and Bairstow then figured in a pivotal unbroken partnership of 174 runs.
The stand was punctuated by Malan, on 92, being dropped at third slip by Cameron Bancroft from Starc’s first delivery with the second new ball. — AAP