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Warner's dig in vain as English quick gives Ashes hint

Warner's dig in vain as English quick gives Ashes hint

Perth Nowa day ago
David Warner has made his second successive half-century in The Hundred but this time failed to take London Spirit to victory.
Having hit a 45-ball 70 not out on Saturday the former Australia Test opener went one better at Old Trafford, but his 51-ball 71 could not help his side overhaul Manchester Originals' 6-163, closing on 6-153.
Warner did, however, get a very close look at a bowler England have huge hopes for, who could be a wildcard Ashes pick.
Sonny Baker may be 22 but due to injuries, notably to his back, the imposing pacer did not make his first-class debut until this year, taking 3-60 against Australia A in Sydney.
He now has seven first-class matches and 27 white-ball ones behind him, a thin catalogue, but he's quick, swings the ball both ways, and gets bounce. Bazball England have picked players on less evidence.
After the Originals' innings, built around England batters Jos Buttler (46) and Phil Salt (31), Baker was given the new ball.
At the crease was Warner, a 38-year-old veteran of 112 Tests and 271 white-ball internationals, a player whose approach to Test cricket changed the way openers batted.
The Hundred has been derided as a hit-and-giggle thrash and is unpopular among red-ball loving traditionalists.
But the opening passage of Spirit's innings would not have been out of place in the Test arena.
Baker's opening two sets of ten balls were all between 137-142 km/h. Warner faced seven of them and struggled to lay a bat on it, scoring two singles. But he also avoided being dismissed as Baker swung the ball across him, then occasionally brought it back in.
Josh Tongue, who will be in the Ashes squad, bowled next from the other end and was just as quick, but Warner drove his third ball for four, then hooked the following one for six in the fashion of Rishabh Pant.
Warner was off and blazing, two off nine became 18 off 18, then 51 off 35. He played some superbly inventive shots on a difficult pitch. But his partner Kane Williamson was unable to accelerate and when the Kiwi perished to Tongue for 19 off 20 Spirit were 1-75, needing 78 off 44.
It was always a tough ask and when Warner went to Tongue, strangled down the legside, Manchester's first win of the season was all but secure.
Tongue finished with 3-29 off 20 balls, Baker 1-21 off his 20, Ashton Turner being his wicket, skiing to mid-on.
Both will be on the plane to Australia, Baker probably with the England Lions, close at hand should one of the other quicks break down. Remember the name.
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