[ad_1]
David Warner (Getty Images)
David warner said it felt “strange” to play England without a crowd after Australia’s two-run loss to arch rivals in a Twenty20 international match in Southampton on Friday that marked the tourists’ first competitive match in nearly six months.
All of England’s home games this season are played behind closed doors in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s the first time I’ve been here (England) and I’m not abused, which is quite nice,” Warner said.
There were no fans present at the Ageas Bowl to roar over England as the hosts, with Australia seemingly sailing towards a 163-for-124-1 victory goal, responded with a four-field flurry for nine runs on 14 balls.
Warner was the subject of repeated boos from the crowd during last year’s World Cup in England following his involvement in a ball-handling scandal in South Africa.
And the taunts from local fans only intensified when Warner had just 95 runs in the next Ashes series drawn, with the left-handed starter ruled out seven times in 10 innings by Stuart Broad.
Veteran sideline Broad no longer plays international white ball cricket and Warner scored Australia’s top scorer with a 58 fine on Friday.
When asked if the atmosphere had felt like an England-Australia match, Warner told reporters after the stumps: “From the perspective of the crowd, no.”
He added: “It was a bit strange (the lack of spectators). But we are grateful to be back and playing,” he added after Australia’s first competitive match since they beat New Zealand in a one-day international match. in Sydney on March 13.
Warner and Australia captain Aaron Finch (46) scored 98 in 11 overs, and both starters lamented the fact that neither of them finished the job as England went 1-0 in a three-game series that continues Sunday.
With a necessary 19 of 12 balls, England leader Chris Jordan conceded just four runs on the penultimate lap.
And a 15-out-of-six goal proved to be too much for Marcus Stoinis, in his first game for Australia since their 50-plus World Cup semi-final loss to England, with the all-rounder unable to hit even a six to Tom’s. Curran. last delivery that would have won the game or a four that would have sent the game to a Super Over.
“Towards the end, they (England) played exceptionally well, they knocked us down quite completely,” Warner said.
Jofra Archer (2-33), eliminated both Finch and Warner in what was the fast pitcher’s first cue ball international in more than a year since he launched the Super Over that sealed England’s victory in the final of the World Cup over New Zealand at Lord’s.
“I missed a yorker, a very good delivery,” Warner said. “There are no excuses. The guys were outclassed to be honest.”
England captain Eoin Morgan praised Jordan (0-23 in three overs) and Curran (0-33 in four) for keeping their nerves at the end.
“It’s a pretty heavy responsibility, but they see an opportunity to take the team forward and lead it and they do it very well,” he said.
Previously, England was in debt to Dawid Malan’s 66, his eighth score of fifty or more in just 14 international T20 innings, who revived the hosts from the depths of 108-5 after starter Jos Buttler’s quick 44.
Malan’s 43 entries contained three sixes, all from Adam Zampa, who saw his last over being of 22.
“Since we just came out of a series (against Pakistan) where we raised one and lost the second game, we will not take anything lightly,” Morgan said.
“Australia is an extremely strong team, we didn’t hit well tonight, but Dav and Jos did. We should have done more runs and I think our players bailed us out.”
