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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Geoff Lemon (earlier) and Scott Heinrich (later)

Australia v Pakistan: first Test, day two – as it happened

David Warner
David Warner reached his century after 180 balls on day two of the first Test at the Gabba. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

And here’s the day two match report:

Summary

And that is it for the day. It’s been all Australia. Warner, dismissed on 56 but reprieved courtesy of Naseem’s no-ball, made Pakistan pay, registering his 22nd Test century and first for almost two years. And there looks more to come on day three. His unbroken stand with Labuschagne stands at 90. Australia will look to pile on the runs tomorrow and hope to bat only once, leading as they are by 72 runs with nine first-innings wickets still in hand. Warner and Burns weren’t chanceless but rode their luck to put on 222 for the first wicket, their second 200-plus stand at the Gabba together, before Burns fell just three short of his hundred. Pakistan will need something close to a miracle, or lashings of rain, to get out of this one. Thanks for your company. Let’s do it again tomorrow.

Updated

Half century! Labuschagne 53 from 91 balls

87th over: Australia 312-1 (Warner 151, Labuschagne 55)

Labuschagne registers his sixth Test fifty with a punched boundary off Shaheen. He waited long enough to get out there but has done very well. And that is stumps. Australia lead by 72 runs with nine wickets remaining in their first innings.

Updated

86th over: Australia 306-1 (Warner 151, Labuschagne 49)

Imran on for Naseem, who remains off the field getting treatment. The paceman struggles to get his line right, as he has done most of the day, with a single to Labuschagne putting Warner on strike for the last ball of the over. And what a last ball it is - Warner leaves one angling back in and the ball actually shaves his off stump. But the bails stay on, confirming that Warner is not human but feline. And he has seven lives left.

85th over: Australia 305-1 (Warner 151, Labuschagne 48)

Naseem leaves the field. Injured possibly? Looks to be reaching for his left knee. At the other end, Shaheen draws Warner into a drive but the batsman plays over the top and the inside edge is beaten. Two balls later, Shaheen beats the outside edge. A maiden over. This is better from Pakistan.

84th over: Australia 305-1 (Warner 151, Labuschagne 48)

Naseem from the other end. Why wouldn’t you? You’re only young once. The youngster, however, can’t quite get his areas right and Labuschagne plays late, cutting for four to take Australia past 300. Australia’s pacemen were ruthless with the new ball yesterday, not yet their Pakistan counterparts today.

83rd over: Australia 298-1 (Warner 150, Labuschagne 42)

Shaheen on now. He begins with the old ball but reaches for the new ball after just one delivery. New ball taken. Shaheen beats Warner’s outside edge before a single takes the opener to 150. Warner has now faced 257 balls and hit 10 boundaries. And to think he was ‘out’ on 56.

Some news out of the Women’s Big Bash League:

And take the time to read this:

Updated

82nd over: Australia 297-1 (Warner 149, Labuschagne 42)

And now Haris continues with the old ball. The new cherry is there for the taking, but it stays in the umpire’s pouch for now. Shaheen warming up. Three off the over. The partnership now stands at 75.

81st over: Australia 294-1 (Warner 147, Labuschagne 41)

Yasir continues, of course, but with the old ball. Pakistan might like to take it now but the over-rate is an issue. Surely you take it. Wickets are needed. Badly. Warner moves his feet, gives himself space and cuts deftly for three.

80th over: Australia 291-1 (Warner 144, Labuschagne 41)

Haris speeds through his over at breakneck speed. Just a single off the over. The new ball is due. But who takes it? Surely the teenager from one end with his pace.

79th over: Australia 290-1 (Warner 143, Labuschagne 41)

Labuschagne sweeps Yasir for four more. The new ball is due in one over. Australia’s lead extends to 50.

78th over: Australia 285-1 (Warner 142, Labuschagne 37)

Warner picks off Haris for ones and twos before Labuschagne late cuts just wide of slip for four. Actually, that wasn’t wide at all. The edge travelled fast to Asad Shafiq but that has to go down as a dropped catch.

77th over: Australia 277-1 (Warner 139, Labuschagne 32)

Yasir again. Again! And again he tries to get around the right hander’s legs, but where Burns swept and failed, Labuschagne just sticks his backside out, safe in the knowledge he can’t be given out lbw when it pitches that far outside leg stump.

76th over: Australia 274-1 (Warner 138, Labuschagne 30)

Warner swings at a wide one from Haris down leg and misses, but Rizwan is interested and appeals for caught behind. The umpire rules not out but Pakistan send the decision upstairs. Not Out. Pakistan are down to one review. Warner ends the over with a boundary courtesy of a muffed bit of fielding by Naseem in the deep. Go easy on him. He’s only 16.

75th over: Australia 267-1 (Warner 133, Labuschagne 28)

Yasir, who’s been bowling all day it seems, is taken for three runs in the over by Labuschagne. These two batsmen are nearing 50 shared runs.

74th over: Australia 264-1 (Warner 133, Labuschagne 25)

Warner and Labuschagne help themselves to a few more singles as Australia’s lead extends to 24 runs. And Steve Smith hasn’t batted yet.

73rd over: Australia 261-1 (Warner 132, Labuschagne 23)

Yasir, around the wicket again, is getting plenty of turn and asking just as many questions of the batsmen, the right hander in particular. Just a couple of singles to report as we motor towards the new ball.

72nd over: Australia 259-1 (Warner 131, Labuschagne 22)

A full toss from Haris is given the treatment it deserves by Labuschagne, who whips the part-timer through mid-wicket for four. A few of you tweeting in asking if I’m “very drunk”. I can assure you, and my paymasters, that I most certainly am not. And I’m glad you liked the Fast Show video clip. I live to give.

71st over: Australia 255-1 (Warner 131, Labuschagne 18)

Warner, helmet off and baggy green on, watches from the non-striker’s end as Labuschagne sees off five dot balls before retaining the strike with a single off Yasir’s last ball.

70th over: Australia 254-1 (Warner 131, Labuschagne 17)

Haris into the attack now with his slow (kind of) turners. With Pakistan’s over-rate issues and the new ball now on the horizon, expect more of the same for the next 10 overs or so. One run off the over.

Updated

69th over: Australia 253-1 (Warner 131, Labuschagne 16)

Yasir resumes after the break for refreshments. He puts one on the platter for Labuschagne, short and wide, and is punished through mid-wicket for four. Yasir ends the over well, rapping Warner on the pads with a sharp turner. The appeal goes up but it’s not out, pitching so far outside off.

68th over: Australia 245-1 (Warner 128, Labuschagne 11)

A trio of singles from Naseem’s latest over. Although Pakistan’s quicks haven’t threatened a great deal today, they are at least tightening up this evening. Fewer four balls is something. Time for drinks.

Updated

67th over: Australia 242-1 (Warner 126, Labuschagne 10)

Yasir tosses it up to Labuschagne, whose eyes light up but he swings and misses. Or did he? There was a noise or two as the ball passed the bat, but the keeper was beaten also so it’s something of a moot point. Nice, attacking bowling, though. Yasir has really been the only one to change things up and keep Australia guessing. He’s been prepared to buy his wickets and at least he has one.

66th over: Australia 241-1 (Warner 125, Labuschagne 10)

Naseem continues. The teen’s head hasn’t dropped since the dismissal that wasn’t, his pace high and consistent all day. He just needs that breakthrough, a first Test wicket. But it isn’t coming, rather Warner cuts to backward point to fire Australia into the lead.

65th over: Australia 238-1 (Warner 123, Labuschagne 9)

A lazy shot from Warner, who tries to cut a fairly straight one and loses his balance. A rare play and a miss from the leftie.

64th over: Australia 237-1 (Warner 122, Labuschagne 9)

Naseem returns to the attack, sending Imran out to pasture. Labuschagne pulls the young quick from outside off stump for an all-run four. Nice shot.

Digvijay Yadav writes in, making a good point in the process. “All the subcontinent teams have traditionally struggled in Australia and South Africa - two places where you face high quality fast bowling and where you probably need it to succeed it as well, writes Digvijay. “Which is why Pakistan’s record there is more damning considering they were the only who had the resources to succeed there for the longest time.”

63rd over: Australia 232-1 (Warner 121, Labuschagne 5)

Labuschagne makes his first meaningful impression in the middle with a nicely struck three runs through the covers off Yasir. The spinner, with some bounce in his step after that breakthrough, then gets some bounce from somewhere to beat Warner ... and prove too much for the keeper, also.

62nd over: Australia 227-1 (Warner 119, Labuschagne 2)

Shaheen makes way for Imran. Warner cuts him past point for two before mistiming a pull shot to end the over but still collecting a single.

Wicket! Burns b Yasir 97 (Australia 222-1)

61st over: Australia 224-1 (Warner 116, Labuschagne 2)

Burns moves to within a boundary of his century but falls for the sucker punch as Yasir, bowling around the wicket, zeroes in at the pads and draws the sweep shot, which Burns fluffs and gloves onto the stumps. So close, yet so far, for Burns. Nevertheless, a fine return to the Test team. Good bowling. The plan came off.

60th over: Australia 219-0 (Warner 115, Burns 95)

Nice square cut from Burns but he sends it straight to Naseem at third man, reducing a shot that deserved four to just one run. Great hustle from Warner earns another single to mid on. Running between wickets has been a hallmark of this huge first-wicket stand. They’ve hurt Pakistan with their strokeplay but they’ve also done it with their intent between the sticks.

59th over: Australia 217-0 (Warner 114, Burns 94)

Yasir races through his over and, as well as wickets, Pakistan need him to do just that. Not even 60 overs to this point of the day is poor. Two from the over. Plenty of talk about no-balls after Warner’s dismissal that wasn’t. There are estimates doing the rounds that upwards of 20 no-balls HAVEN’T been called today by the umpires. That’s 20 runs that should be Australia’s and 20 warnings to Pakistan bowlers to watch their front feet that haven’t been forthcoming.

58th over: Australia 215-0 (Warner 113, Burns 93)

Burns is watchful to Shaheen, within sniffing distance of his century as he is. Shaheen is probing that off stump and Burns can’t get him away. Maiden over.

57th over: Australia 215-0 (Warner 113, Burns 93)

Three singles come from Yasir’s first five deliveries but the over comes to life at the end, Warner driving quite uppishly just wide of mid off for four.

56th over: Australia 208-0 (Warner 108, Burns 91)

Warner takes two off Shaheen’s latest offering. He does look set in for the long haul. And why wouldn’t he be? His century breaks a 23-month drought and it’s been a watchful one, slow by Warner’s standards and containing just the seven boundaries. You could call this knock one of steely resolve.

55th over: Australia 206-0 (Warner 106, Burns 91)

Warner cuts Yasir past point for another boundary, adding four runs to the total and a degree of belief that he’s not content with a century alone.

54th over: Australia 201-0 (Warner 101, Burns 91)

A neat over from Shaheen but a misfield on the last ball hands Burns two runs - taking him into the 90s and Australia past 200. It’s the second time these two have put on a double ton for the opening wicket at the Gabba.

Century! Warner 100 from 180 balls

53rd over: Australia 197-0 (Warner 100, Burns 89)

Yasir from the other end as Pakistan opt for a pace-and-turn combo. A Burns single puts Warner on strike, and he waits until the last ball of the over to squeeze a single and clock his 22nd Test century. It’s been a long time coming and though his Ashes debacle will forever remain in the books, the pain is somewhat lessened now. Good to see the leap back, too!

52nd over: Australia 195-0 (Warner 99, Burns 88)

Shaheen resumes the offensive for Pakistan following the tea break. Warner needs just a single to break into triple figures. The result? A maiden over, of course.

Tea - Australia 195 without loss, trailing Pakistan's 240

Another dominant session from the home side. Both of these openers have given chances - most notably Warner, who if not for Naseem’s no-ball would be cooling his jets in the dressing room rather than enjoying tea just one run short of his 22nd Test century. In two sessions, Warner has already outscored his aggregate offering in the Ashes. Home, sweet home. See you in a few moments.

51st over: Australia 195-0 (Warner 99, Burns 88)

Naseem puts one right in the slot for Burns, who cover drives for three. This puts Warner on strike with two balls left before tea. The first ball brings nothing and the second one brings ... a single that Burns wants to turn into two, but Warner is having none of it. So her goes to tea on 99, and will face the first ball of the evening session.

50th over: Australia 189-0 (Warner 97, Burns 85)

Iftikhar back for more with his gentle off-breaks. Just the single off the over. Warner now has one over before tea to register another ton.

49th over: Australia 189-0 (Warner 96, Burns 85)

Naseem continues, full again, and Burns unfurls one of the shots of the day, a glorious straight drive that races to the fence. Good response from the teen later in the over, dropping one in short and fast that Burns has little idea about but manages to fend to safety.

Here’s that direct hit.

48th over: Australia 181-0 (Warner 93, Burns 80)

Iftikhar around the wicket. Burns clips one through mid-wicket and the batsmen step on the gas trying to turn an easy single into a manic two. Warner speeds towards the danger end and slides his bat - just as well, as Yasir crashes the stumps with a direct hit from distance. The third umpire deliberates for some time before declaring Warner safely home. But there was only centimetres in it. Not out.

47th over: Australia 178-0 (Warner 93, Burns 77)

Imran off, Naseem on. I’m a big fan of teenagers, used to be one myself, and I really hope Naseem gets his first Test wicket sooner rather than later. Dare I say it, the game could do with it. This is getting ugly. The youngster bowls with nice pace but there’s no breakthrough to report. Warner is watchful for a change. He wants that century. Two runs from the over.

46th over: Australia 176-0 (Warner 92, Burns 76)

Yasir off, Iftikhar on. Warner creeps deeper into the 90s. But there doesn’t appear a nerve in sight from him or Burns, the latter dancing down the pitch and lofting high and wide over mid-off for four. He then trades power for guile, sweeping to the fence to make it 11 for the over. Ouch.

45th over: Australia 165-0 (Warner 90, Burns 67)

Imran continues from over the wicket and he’s full to both batsmen, clearly trying to get the openers playing their shots. A couple of full-blooded drives from Burns highlight the over, but both pick out fielders and neither earns a run. One run from the over.

Here’s Naseem’s no-ball, when getting Warner ‘out’, in case you haven’t yet seen it.

44th over: Australia 164-0 (Warner 89, Burns 67)

A half reason for Pakistan to get excited, with Burns clearly not convinced but going through with the shot anyway, a cut to a fairly straight one from Yasir that he can only prod into the turf. Warner is decidedly more forthright later in the over, smearing the spinner to the fine-leg fence.

43rd over: Australia 156-0 (Warner 84, Burns 64)

Warner stares down the pitch at Imran, with the crazy eyes of a man who’s been given a second shot at life, and pulls him for two through mid-wicket before driving through the covers for four. That latter shot was right out of the screws. Say what you like about Warner on the road, and plenty do, but at home he’s imperious.

42nd over: Australia 149-0 (Warner 78, Burns 63)

Yasir draws the defensive prod from Warner, and maybe, just maybe, he got an edge. Regardless, the ball lands just in front of short-leg via his pads. Just the single off that rather brisk over.

This is quite funny.

41st over: Australia 148-0 (Warner 78, Burns 62)

Shaheen off, Imran on. That was a very tidy spell from Shaheen but Pakistan need so much more than that right now. Over the wicket to Warner, Imran angles one across the left-hander and draws the shot, beating the outside edge. Nice movement off the seam. Could Imran be the one to make a difference this session, a la Cummins at this time yesterday? You could argue Naseem has already done that, but no-balls are called such for a reason. Two runs off the over.

40th over: Australia 146-0 (Warner 76, Burns 62)

Play resumes after drinks, Australia trailing by precisely 100 runs. Yasir continues and he’s tossing it up to Burns, whose strapped left elbow looks less troublesome after those painkillers. Burns goes after the spinner last ball, not getting all of his heave over mid-on but enough to earn a boundary. Good to see this man making a decent fist of it for Australia at the top of the order.

Thanks very much, Geoff. Pleasure to again be knocking down what you’re setting up. I guess that makes me Lillee and you Thommo. Or am I Devito and you Schwarzenegger? I’m digressing before I’ve even started, which isn’t the best way to kick start affairs - unlike today’s riposte by Warner and Burns. With the benefit of context, it’s safe to say this is an agreeable batting deck. It’s also safe to Pakistan have an awful lot of work ahead if they’re to get back into this Test match. Fewer no-balls on wicket deliveries would help. Please join me for what’s left of day two (and there’s a fair bit of it) by sending me an email or getting in touch via Twitter - @scott_heinrich. Or, if you’re partial to a splash of Brut cologne, feel free to participate on the inside.

39th over: Australia 140-0 (Warner 75, Burns 57) Shaheen, left-arm around the wicket at Burns, and the batsmen are taking sharp singles now with drinks due in a moment. A couple of tip-and-run types, including one that requires a big dive from Burns. He makes it in though, and these openers have batted half the day. That’s drinks, and that’s me done. Scott Heinrich will be your company from here.

Updated

38th over: Australia 129-0 (Warner 72, Burns 56) Warner in his pomp now, down the wicket and driving through cover for four! Warner likes leg-spin. He demolished Imran Tahir’s Test career before it really began, he’s taken plenty of runs off Yasir before in their respective careers, and he’s taking a few today. Three singles as well from the over.

37th over: Australia 129-0 (Warner 66, Burns 55) Another chop from Warner against Shaheen, into the ground past his stumps. That ball was much fuller and bounced much lower, just missing the woodwork. The luck is with Warner today.

36th over: Australia 127-0 (Warner 65, Burns 54) Yasir has got through nine overs now for 26 runs. So his economy has been good, but those runs have some steadily enough for Australia to feel comfortable. Another three singles in this over, and with each of them the left-right combination swaps and the field has to change. Hard to build consistency for Pakistan.

35th over: Australia 124-0 (Warner 64, Burns 52) A maiden over for Shaheen, including an unsure moment for Warner as he tries to pull, edges hard into the ground, and has the ball bounce high into the air and threaten his stumps. Warner runs back to guard them as Shaheen bears down.

34th over: Australia 124-0 (Warner 64, Burns 52) Yasir to Warner, and the runs keep coming... single... brace... single... without too much difficulty. This pair made some huge runs in that aforementioned New Zealand Test at the Gabba. They’re well in the frame for the same now.

33rd over: Australia 120-0 (Warner 61, Burns 51) A bowling change with Shaheen Afridi into the attack, but he doesn’t get it right in his first over. Not expensive, but too wide of off stump to force many shots or create any danger. Pakistan just drifting now. They need someone to take command of the match, like Cummins did for Australia yesterday. Shaheen could and probably should be that bowler.

Half century! Burns 50 from 85 balls

32nd over: Australia 114-0 (Warner 61, Burns 50) First a cut shot from Yasir’s poor delivery that’s far too short, then a drive from a full ball. A milestone for the Queenslander on his home ground for state cricket, where he also made his first Test century against New Zealand in 2015. After four years of ins and outs, he’s finally back in the side for what should be a proper shot at the job.

31st over: Australia 114-0 (Warner 60, Burns 46) Naseem is trying to carry on the short-ball attack against both batsmen, but when he finally gets a shot at Burns he bowls his bouncer too wide. Easily evaded.

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30th over: Australia 112-0 (Warner 59, Burns 45) Yasir to Burns, and the bowler just has to hit the right length six times out of six. He does it through the first half of the over, right on the off stump. A bit too full for the fourth and Burns drives, but can’t beat Azhar diving at cover. Burns looks a bit uncomfortable, it seems? How bruised is his arm? He drives square, again to the field, drawing excited chat from Rizwan behind the stumps. Then a final drive to mid-off. At last a maiden for Yasir, even if a bit lucky.

Updated

29th over: Australia 112-0 (Warner 59, Burns 45) Naseem cranking up towards 147 kilometres an hour after lunch, testing Warner around the off stump. That’s a decent comeback over, after the disappointment of the previous set.

Updated

28th over: Australia 109-0 (Warner 57, Burns 44) The field is fairly well spread for Yasir now, an in-out type with a slip and a short leg, but men in the deep on the off side for Burns. Three singles from the over as the Australians hit the gaps.

27th over: Australia 106-0 (Warner 56, Burns 42) Naseem Shah at the other end, bowling to Burns, who he hit on the arm just before the break. Burns is perhaps expecting the shorter ball, because his balance isn’t there as he pushes at a beauty, a ball that moves away off the seam. Burns escapes from strike with a nudge off the pads, and with the last ball of the over Naseem has Warner caught behind! Wide and full, Warner down on one knee slashing, gets a fat bottom edge that carries through to Rizwan behind the stumps. Warner walks off shaking his head... then gets called back. It’s a no-ball. A big overstep on the replay as Naseem was striving for pace. What a disappointment. The young man’s first Test wicket granted, then taken away.

26th over: Australia 103-0 (Warner 55, Burns 41) We’re back after lunch, and it’s Yasir Shah bowling to David Warner. A good start from the leg-spinner, landing on the stumps to the left-hander and starting to find a bit of turn. But after five good balls, Yasir bowls a bit too short and Warner cuts him for three. Story of Pakistan’s day.

Lunch – Australia 100 without loss, trailing Pakistan's 240

There we have it. Both teams batted through the morning session of a day without loss, but Australia’s openers have doubled the runs that Pakistan’s put on yesterday. Australia’s bowlers looked closer to a breakthrough. They were able to come back after the break, adjust to a fuller length, use their bouncers more effectively, and rattle through five wickets before tea. Pakistan will need a similarly dramatic turnaround to remain in this match. Another session like this one and they’ll be in real trouble. We’ll be back in half an hour or so.

25th over: Australia 100-0 (Warner 52, Burns 41) Last over before lunch, and here comes the century stand! Well, Australia’s opening partnerships didn’t make a hundred runs in total during five Ashes Tests. Warner didn’t make a hundred runs on his own. But batting conditions are a bit easier here, and the new-old pairing of Burns and Warner hits triple figures. They celebrate, then Burns returns to the batting crease in time to get hit by Naseem! In the elbow. It sounded like bat, because that hit flush on the bone as Burns shaped to duck, turned his head away, then learned that the ball wasn’t going to get up. He’ll want some ice on that in the break, as lunch arrives.

24th over: Australia 98-0 (Warner 52, Burns 39) Yasir races through an over with just two singles to give Naseem one more shot before the spring rolls are served.

Half century! Warner 50 from 78 balls

23rd over: Australia 96-0 (Warner 51, Burns 38) He gets the milestone at the first chance with a push for one run, his 31st Test fifty. Naseem Shah is the bowler, replacing Imran. Some short balls, some pace, three singles. Lunch is looming, and Pakistan need it.

22nd over: Australia 93-0 (Warner 49, Burns 37) Yasir to Warner, twice in a row on the pads. Warner pressing forward to defend. But it’s the third ball that lets Yasir down. Overthrown, too full and a bit of width as he tries a googly, where building consistent pressure might have been better. Warner drives it through cover for four. Then Yasir drags a bit short and Warner is dropped! Impossible for short leg to have seen that ball, it was middled and it hit him in the hand rather than the other way around. Shan Masood has been good in that position, and he was immediately looking for a rebound, hoping the ball would pop up off his thigh after it hit him, but it goes to ground instead. Would have been a pure fluke if that had stuck somewhere. Warner follows up with another run to keep the strike and move within a run of his fifty.

21st over: Australia 88-0 (Warner 44, Burns 37) Burns again, climbing into a short ball! He’s not been shy about cross-bat shots this morning. Imran Khan not quick enough to try that length. The rest of the over is a decent length, but you can’t build pressure when you’ve given away that easy four. Warner’s score hasn’t moved for several overs but Burns has been ticking away.

20th over: Australia 84-0 (Warner 44, Burns 33) Yasir Shah at last, the leg-spinner who was the fastest bowler to 200 wickets in terms of Tests played, beating a long-standing record by Depression-era Australian leggie Clarrie Grimmett. Yasir’s first ball in this Test is too short, and Burns cuts it easily to get off strike. Yasir to a left-hander now, rarely a leg-spinner’s preference, but from over the wicket he can bowl in line with the stumps and threaten Warner that way. Yasir debuted against Australia in 2014 in the UAE and got a lot of his wickets with the straight ball, sliding on to hit the pads of batsmen expecting turn. Decent length to Warner, dragging him forward but not bowling too full.

19th over: Australia 83-0 (Warner 44, Burns 32) The Imran Khan line of attack to Warner is curious. It looks like he’s just trying to bowl dry, keep Warner quiet. He’s right-arm over, but naturally bowls quite wide of the stumps. That means there’s a steep angle across Warner, no chance of leg before wicket, and the only mode of dismissal is an edge into the cordon. But Warner isn’t offering much in the way of loose shots. He’s happy to defend the balls close to him, and leave the ones wider if the length isn’t full enough or short enough to target. Imran bowls a maiden. The omission of Mohammad Abbas starts to look worse and worse. What a bowler he is, and might have been here.

18th over: Australia 83-0 (Warner 44, Burns 32) Another trip to the dancefloor for Burns. He’s starting to catch up to Warner’s score, with another lofted off-drive against the Pakistani off-spinner. The visitors look short of ideas at this stage.

17th over: Australia 78-0 (Warner 43, Burns 28) Too short again from Imran, and now Burns is pulling, but only for one run thanks to the deep square leg. Just a couple of singles from the over, but no threat in it. Still no sign of Yasir Shah...

16th over: Australia 76-0 (Warner 42, Burns 27) Dancing time for Burns! He’s taken on more deliveries than Warner today, refusing to be dictated terms. First ball of Iftikhar’s over, Burns is down the track and lifting him straight for four. Adds a single to keep the strike.

Updated

15th over: Australia 71-0 (Warner 42, Burns 22) Imran Khan is back replacing Naseem, trying the same length of attack but about 20 clicks slower. Warner responds with his first pull shot of the innings, not entirely nailed, but into the gap between mid-on and midwicket for four.

14th over: Australia 67-0 (Warner 38, Burns 22) Spin for the first time today, but it won’t be the leggie Yasir. Iftikhar Ahmed will essay his off-breaks, around the wicket to the lefty Warner. Nothing expansive from Warner, just a third-ball push and he gets a run thanks to a misfield at cover. Nice line from Iftikhar to Burns as the bowler switches over the wicket. A couple of good takes from Shan Masood at short leg, he’s been impressive there today. “Bowling, Iffy!” calls Rizwan. A debatable nickname.

13th over: Australia 66-0 (Warner 37, Burns 22) Naseem is cranking up the speed gun as his spell wears on! Up towards 150 kilometres an hour now, and when Burns takes on a bouncer it’s too fast for him to control. A high top edge swirls out to deep backward square, but there’s no man there on the hook. Burns gets four.

12th over: Australia 58-0 (Warner 36, Burns 15) Lucky that Warner had a drink. Another four for him, but not a boundary. His cover drive pulls up just inside the rope, but he runs the first couple so hard that he’s able to turn for a fourth as the ball is retrieved. That’s a hard task in the Brisbane heat. It’s not quite 30 degrees today but it’s still Queensland humid.

11th over: Australia 51-0 (Warner 30, Burns 14) Naseem Shah bowling with fire! After being nudged off the pads for another couple of runs he decides that he’s had enough, comes around the wicket to Warner and starts the barrage. One decent bouncer, then one absolute beauty! It sizzles past the grille, and Warner plays it well, swaying away. The bowler gives him a glare after each of those short balls, and Warner offers back a broad grin. Even Warner can’t help being a bit friendly towards his young opponent. Naseem loses his line down leg, but Rizwan spares him any extras with a huge diving save. Drinks.

10th over: Australia 51-0 (Warner 30, Burns 14) Finally a quiet over for Pakistan, but Shaheen is having trouble with his landing zone, bowling a no-ball and then having a long conversation with the umpire and his captain about his footing. Australia’s fifty is up.

9th over: Australia 49-0 (Warner 29, Burns 14) Naseem Shah now, his first bad ball in Test cricket, losing his line across Warner and giving way too much width. Warner middles his cut-carve stroke for four. Naseem, right-arm over, is immediately tight on the stumps again, but even then Warner can just drop and run a single to cover.

8th over: Australia 44-0 (Warner 24, Burns 14) Yesterday the Pakistani opening pair batted through the session and frustrated Australia, but the bowlers didn’t offer any freebies. The partnership didn’t hurt too much on the scoreboard. This morning Australia’s openers are batting through but they’ve also been given scoring chances in every over. Shaheen nearly gets through a tidy one, but overpitches the sixth ball and Warner can drive again for three.

Updated

7th over: Australia 40-0 (Warner 21, Burns 13) Here’s a moment: Naseem Shah, on debut, will have his first bowl in Test cricket. Sixteen years of age as he turns out for Pakistan. He’s on the spot with his first ball, just outside Warner’s off stump and blocked away for a dot ball. The second effort squirts past backward point for three runs, but it clocked nearly 148 kilometres an hour. He really arches the back in his delivery stride and then slingshots his bowling arm through, which is where he derives his pace. Burns gets a single to fine leg. Back to bowling at Warner, and Naseem is tight on the stumps. Twice in a row, not far from the sticks but Warner leaves, and the ball swings after it passes him enough to flummox the keeper and go for a couple of byes. Exciting start from Naseem.

6th over: Australia 34-0 (Warner 18, Burns 12) The errors keep building. Overpitched, so Warner can drive two runs through cover. On the legs, square for two more. The runs coming too easily, both batsmen have a start. Then overpitched again and Warner drives for four. Nice stride, perfect balance, out through cover. Imran looks for a solution by shifting to around the wicket, right-armer to left-hander, but bowls the same length and Warner can drive through cover again for three. The ball gets saved because third slip has been moved to cover and is able to chase it down. Australia off to a flyer, nearly 6 runs an over. Time for a change.

5th over: Australia 23-0 (Warner 7, Burns 12) Shaheen is the one not getting it right now. Just enough width for Warner to steer it away behind point, his most productive shot in Test cricket, for three runs. Then down leg side, and Burns doesn’t hit it with the bat but gets some thigh pad on it, four leg byes.

4th over: Australia 14-0 (Warner 3, Burns 11) Imran Khan still isn’t quite right to Burns, straying onto the pads to allow a single to fine leg. But he gets it right to the left-handed Warner thereafter, angling the ball across. Beats Warner with a beauty that has the whole slip cordon up, but the bowler shakes his head. No edge. Warner nails an off-drive, but Azhar Ali at mid-off dives full length to stop it getting straight of him. Good fielding.

“Morning Geoff,” writes Brian Withington. “Lovely to see a return to your usual preambling form. All power to your marrows and assorted cucurbits.”

3rd over: Australia 12-0 (Warner 2, Burns 10) Another boundary for Burns, safe enough but not controlled, pushing at Shaheen gently enough that the edge rolls to third man rather than flying through the air. Burns follows up in true opening batsman style by just pressing a run to midwicket. Warner covers his stumps for the rest of the over.

2nd over: Australia 6-0 (Warner 1, Burns 5) A busy first over of work for Joe Burns, who isn’t settled. First ball he’s cramped for room against a short ball but flays at it anyway, and under-edges it on the bounce through to Rizwan. Imran Khan is annoyed that the keeper was so far back. Then Burns takes on the next ball with a pull, clobbering it into short leg’s shin pad for a ricochet single. Warner takes his first run with a push to cover, then Burns hits short leg again and is setting off, but a brilliant bit of fielding from Shan Masood under the helmet sees the ball hit him on his right side, then the fielder grabbing the rebound with his left hand as it bounces behind his back. On the spin, Shan backhands at the stumps, and would have run out Burns had he hit. Then Imran bowls Burns a shorter wider one, and Burns carves a boundary. No shortage of shots.

1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Burns 0) Shaheen Shah Afridi with the ball, and Warner to face the first delivery. More often than not he prefers to start at the non-striker’s end, but he wants an immediate start. Shaheen is tall, left arm, bowls with pace and swing. And he starts with both, on the off stump, throwing in a bumper. Warner plays with circumspection and watches out a maiden.

“G’day Geoff. Had a great day at the Gabba yesterday, but am back in the office today, so looking forward to your updates. Will the Australians fare any better than Pakistan did?”

Thanks for the email, Murray Henman. That’s exactly the question. Warner and Burns are walking to the middle. Warner had a shocking Ashes in England, as most of you would know. Burns has finally got another chance after being harshly dealt with before that series. Both have a point to prove and some good bowlers to deal with...

Get in touch

Remember you can email the OBO – geoff.lemon@theguardian.com for the time being – or find me on Twitter using @GeoffLemonSport.

If you want something to read in the meantime, England are still batting, just, over the fence in New Zealand. I’ll yell any messages across if you have any.

If you want a bit more detail, here is the wires summary of the first day’s play.

Preamble

What ho, fine friends. Good morrow. Good marrow. Of your bones and in your gardens both. Here’s hoping. Time to sniff the flowers and biff with power. We’ve had one day of Test cricket in the Australian summer and it was a beauty – momentum shifts, danger, sturdy resistance, late drama, and ultimately closure. Pakistan were bowled out on the stroke of stumps. Fought brilliantly through the morning session via Azhar and Shan Masood, collapsed through the middle, then fought again at the end via Shafiq with help from Rizwan and Yasir. They’ve made 240 which will at least give their quicks something to bowl at. Today it’s Australia’s turn: how will the new-old batting line-up fare? Can’t wait.

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