Australia's 'Reverend' David Warner praying for Ashes answers after England tame opener

David Warner's plan for this series was to try to force himself to “hate” the England players. If they continue to bowl at him as they did on Friday he will find plenty of reasons to do so.

If history is any guide, Warner will score a century in the second innings of this Test. But records are there to be broken and England will take great encouragement from how they combated Australia’s dangerman.

Warner made just 26 and the tourists got their tactics spot on. The opening batsman loves to bully a bowling attack with early boundaries, so Joe Root posted sweepers on both sides of the wicket. The bowlers rarely gave Warner any width and when they did, there was usually a fielder there to minimise the damage.

Warner faced 43 deliveries and hit only two fours before he scooped a short delivery from Jake Ball to midwicket, where Dawid Malan fumbled but clutched the ball at the second attempt. Warner’s strike rate – a shade over 60 – was significantly below the 77 he has managed during the rest of his Test career. In Warner’s previous four Tests at The Gabba, he scored five centuries, so it was quite an achievement for England to tame him.