Openers trying to work out failures
AUSTRALIA TEST opener David Warner admits the team’s toporder batsmen aren’t pulling their weight.
The hard-hitting Warner missed out on a golden opportunity to get a big score on a difficult first-day wicket on Friday in the first test against Sri Lanka when a mix-up led to his run-out for 57.
His fellow opener, Ed Cowan, fell to a pull shot for four while former opener Phil Hughes, returning to the side after a 12-month absence, scored an impressive 86 at No 3.
Shane Watson got a start as usual and failed to go on, caught in slips for 30 at No 4 as skipper Michael Clarke came in at 3-183.
Michael Clarke (74) and Mike Hussey (115 not out) shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 106 yesterday in Australia’s 450-5 declared, while Matthew Wade was unbeaten on 68.
Clarke averages 102.28 in 2012 while Hussey is averaging 59.50. Yesterday was his 18th test 100.
‘‘We can’t keep relying on them,’’ Warner said yesterday.
‘‘Us as a top-four unit, we’ve had a sit-down chat together about what we’ve got to do now.
‘‘We’ve got to step up and in the top four we want at least one of us going on to make a big score.
‘‘With our top three, our main focus is getting through to the 30th or 40th over and not letting that middle order in with that new ball. We’ve been three for not many for the last 12 months and it’s disappointing to see that.
‘‘We’ve got to try working as hard as we can to build partnerships.’’
Australia’s average score for three wickets down in 2012 in the first innings is 94.
‘‘A couple of the boys getting starts then not being able to go on with it is the disappointing thing,’’ Warner told ABC Radio.
He said his own run-out was particularly disappointing.
‘‘It was just a batsman error. I called ‘yes’ and then ‘no’,’’ said Warner, who has scored three hundreds in his 13-test career.
‘‘Once you say ‘yes’ they’re committed sometimes in running.
‘‘We had a partnership going and that was one ball before lunch and that’s the most disappointing thing about it. It’s frustrating.
‘‘To get a start like that and get through the first hour and almost to lunch, it does gut you in a way.’’