Third Test, day three, Adelaide Oval
First innings: Australia 3-589, Pakistan 6-103
Babar 48, Yasir 6
Australia’s bowlers are looking to beat the Pakistan bats and the weather on day three of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval.
It was overcast, but dry, in Adelaide when Pakistan resumed at 6-96 chasing Australia’s massive first innings score of 3-589.
Paceman Mitchell Starc went on a rampage to snare 5-22 in the evening session, with Babar Azam 43 and Yasir Shah 4 the only bats left standing at stumps on day two.
Setting up the huge Australian total was opener David Warner, who revealed he could retire from either red or white-ball cricket in the next 18 months in a bid to prolong his career in the other format.
Fresh off hitting the 10th highest score of all time against Pakistan on Saturday with an unbeaten 335, Warner did not show the signs of a 33-year-old heading into the back-end of his career.
But he’s well aware he can’t keep at it forever.
Australia’s Test schedule will thin out slightly over the next few years, but they have a busy Twenty20 calendar leading into next year’s home World Cup.
Another T20 World Cup follows shortly after in India in 2021, with Warner suggesting it’s unlikely he will continue playing all formats after that.
And the left-hander, who made his name as a T20 batsman before turning into one of Australia’s best Test players, indicated it could be the white ball that goes first.
“I haven’t really thought about it yet but I think when you play Test cricket, it’s obviously less taxing on your legs unless you’re out there all day like that,” Warner said.
I haven’t really put any thought into what I’ll do first, whether it’s give away T20 internationals to free up some time for the Test matches.
“I think that’ll probably come around the corner after next year’s World Cup. I might have to think about it. There’s a World Cup six months after that as well.
“Something’s got to give. It’s also an opportunity for a youngster to come through. We’ve got great depth in Australian cricket.”
Warner was arguably the busiest of any Australian cricketer before the ball-tampering ban, and is still one of few players to regularly feature across all three formats.
There had been fears last year Warner would give up his Australian career to become a gun for hire on the T20 circuit.
But he shut down any suggestion of that earlier this summer, pointing out that if that was ever a consideration it would have come following the ball-tampering scandal.
He does however believe the T20 game has helped his fitness for Test cricket.
The opener was still running quick singles and coming back for twos throughout his nine hours at the crease, which included 301 trips running up and down the pitch.
“T20 cricket is high intensity,” he said.
“I go back to the IPL. I was absolutely cooked come the 7th game. I’d spent more time out on the field, in the heat, running with Jonny Bairstow.
“It was really tough and taxing. That’s really where I am now. If I had those miles in my legs, it’s helping me right now.”
-with AAP
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