England’s decision to leave fast bowler Stuart Broad out of its line-up for the first Ashes Test was looking even more bizarre when David Warner made it to lunch on 48 not out at the Gabba.
Warner – who averages 48.09 in Test cricket – was Broad’s bunny last time the pair met, falling to the England seamer seven times amid a horror Ashes tour of the UK in 2019 where the Aussie averaged a measly 9.50 across five matches.
Six of Australia’s 11 batsmen in this current Test are left-handers and most experts were backing Broad to have a field day Down Under, especially in Brisbane on a green and juicy wicket.
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Instead, England dropped a bomb yesterday morning in leaving Broad off the teamsheet for the series opener. Making his omission even more bizarre was the fact fellow gun paceman James Anderson had been ruled out the day prior.
There was speculation the pair may be carrying niggling injuries, and the tourists are simply making sure their two strike weapons are primed and ready for the remaining four Tests.
But the mystery escalated today when Anderson and Broad were spied “bowling at full tilt in the nets”.
Meanwhile, inside the stadium, the Aussies made it through the first session at 1-113, chasing England’s meagre first-innings total of 147.
Marcus Harris went cheaply before Warner and Marnus Labuschagne settled in and put on triple figures together before the first break.
Needless to say punters on social media were still scratching their heads over Anderson and Broad’s omissions, particularly after spin bowler Jack Leach was belted for three sixes before lunch.
https://twitter.com/JohnSunCricket/status/1468750809537994752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/MitchellGlenn/status/1468763387609829377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/izzywestbury/status/1468759060887396354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/GeoffLemonSport/status/1468761096915849216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/alex_duffell/status/1468762473343987724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/White_Adam/status/1468731468029444097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/OllyHunter/status/1468761905221312512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfwhttps://twitter.com/mattgoss_/status/1468760345313308673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
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