Chris Rogers, David Warner: Strange bedfellows

They are not the first strange bedfellows to open the innings in Test cricket. There have been plenty. But rarely have two individuals been contrasting in as many ways as Rogers and Warner. Even if at the very basis of it, they might both be left-handers.

When they walk out to bat, it can almost seem like the chronic school menace is accompanying the stern professor to the middle. Warner bouncing around, swinging his arms manically and eager for a hit. And Rogers beside him striding in as if for another day at the office. Not to forget the extreme distinction in their batting styles. Warner the kamikaze maverick dishing out daredevilry in cricket apparel, and Rogers the calculated accountant masquerading as an opening bat. But on Tuesday at the SCG, India felt their collective might. It’s like they were subjected to an intense inquisition by the good cop and the bad cop routine, and they had no option but to succumb meekly and surrender entirely. Warner and Rogers eventually put on exactly 200 for the first wicket, and lost their wickets subsequently, as Australia piled on the runs on Day One to finish on 348/2.

But by the time he threw himself into Rogers’ arms after having brought up their 200-run partnership, an emotional Warner had already wept, wiped his tears, cried again and also gone down on his knees and kissed the spot on the square where his ‘little mate’ had fallen after receiving that infamous blow. In all, Warner had vented it all out, not bothering for a moment that he was under the world’s gaze. That he was at the centre of the SCG. Here, he was proving to the world that boys can cry. The diminutive left-hander had also by then reduced the hapless Indian bowling to tears, metaphorical ones they might have been, by smashing them into pieces.

But somehow as he and Warner held their embrace in the centre of the SCG, it finally seemed like Australia was ready to move on. At that point, they seemed poised to anyway. The young tyro and the aging sage had together set them on the path of salvation on an emotional day, which was witnessed by the bereaved family of the late Phil Hughes. Hughes was there too, in the form of a brand-new plaque placed right outside the Australian dressing-room.

Run machine

And Warner in particular still seemed to be reeling from the loss of his dear friend. He was inconsolable when the Australian national anthem was being sung with a smiling image of Hughes watching on from the big screen. Ryan Harris was one of the many who had to comfort him. And he was still wiping away tears as he walked out to bat. Then he marked his guard and set off in a way only he can. The boundaries came thick and fast. The first three were fortuitous but then he bashed Umesh Yadav for three consecutive boundaries to move close to yet another half-century in the series. At the other end, Rogers was his usual self, keeping out the good ‘uns and punishing the slightly erroneous ones, especially those with width.

The way he drives the ball has a stern academic to it too. It’s never just a drive. If anything, he looks like an old headmaster caning the ball as a reprimand. What enhances the image is his distinctive top-hand grip, which allows you to see a larger face of the bat coming down on the ball. When he hits them through covers, he literally spanks them. And for a major part of their partnership, the two were neck-and-neck, and equally unforgiving on some inept bowling from the Indian seamers, with Yadav and Shami erratic and Bhuvneshwar Kumar increasingly ineffective.

Then Warner reached 63, after surviving a couple of nervy moments. In no time, he was near Pitch No.7, paying homage to his departed mate. Emotions were running high again. But he recovered soon to pick off a few more boundaries off Yadav before pulling a short delivery from Shami for four and bringing up his third century of the series. His celebration was customarily ebullient and theatrical with the leap followed by a salute towards the heavens. He was then scalped by R Ashwin. But the SCG was now awaiting to rise to its feet again for a Rogers ton. Even if they knew the celebration on this occasion would be a lot more subdued.

Unfortunately though they didn’t get to find out as Rogers was late on the ball and played on to Shami for 95. It was the fifth straight half-century for him in this series. It was the umpteenth example of why despite his age he remains one of the two best openers Down Under. And also why his Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde double-act alongside Warner was a super-hit for Australia.