David Warner makes brutal slice of unwanted history in fourth Ashes Test

David Warner's ugly woes in England continued on Wednesday on the opening day of the fourth Ashes Test, as the Aussie opener secured an unwanted slice of cricket history. The 36-year-old has struggled to make a meaningful score across the last two Ashes series in England, but appeared to be heading in the right direction at Old Trafford.

Warner cut the first ball of the match for four and made it to 32 off 38 balls as he showed some of his characteristic grit and aggression. However the opener was dismissed rather cheaply by Chris Woakes when he edged a wide delivery to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after failing to use his feet.

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“It looked like he sort of half-heartedly pushed at it rather than really committing, which he had done previously in the innings," Callum Ferguson said on Channel 9. "He will be really disappointed to have let a good start to his innings slip.”

Amid growing calls for the Aussies to drop Warner and find someone else to open the batting, the veteran has now set an unenviable slice of cricket history. His 32 runs on Wednesday made him the all-time leading run-scorer among touring batters in England without posting a century.

Warner has now made 868 runs in England throughout his Test career at an average of 25.52. He has batted 34 times on English soil since his first Test there in 2013, with his highest score being 85.

He has managed to make a half-century on eight occasions, but has never notched triple figures. At stumps on the opening day in Manchester, Aussie bowler Mitchell Starc (23 not out) boasted a higher average in England than Warner (26.62).

Warner has declared that the Aussie summer will be his farewell to Test cricket, with his intention to retire after his home Test match in Sydney next January. However he might not get the chance if his worrying dip in form continues.

The left-hander has dismissed by Stuart Broad 17 times in his career, including twice in seven balls against him at Headingley last week. While he didn't fall to Broad in the first innings at Old Trafford, it appeared only a matter of time before he was dismissed by someone else.

David Warner insists he's in good form

Speaking before the fourth Test, Warner said: "I don't really think about the match-up (with Broad). You think about the ball that's coming at you, how you are going to score. He bowls in a great area all the time.

"I always love facing Broady. We have two left-handed opening batters and he is one of, if not the best bowler to left-handers in today's game. He is so good at it. Jimmy (Anderson) is there as well. These are guys we have watched and played against for a long time."

He added: "I feel like I am in great touch. I have felt good in the nets, leading in I had good sessions against our quicks at Beckenham (before the series).

"Lord's was probably the best I've batted in the last two years. Just holding my line. We have batted in probably the toughest conditions so far. In Leeds I got two good balls. You can't do too much about that ... You just have to take it on the chin, can't do anything about it."

Warner was one of seven Aussie batters who managed to get a start on Wednesday and pass 20, but none of them managed to cash in. Australia went to stumps at 8-299 after Marnus Labuschagne (51), Steve Smith (41), Travis Head (48) and Mitch Marsh (51) all got themselves in but failed to go really big.

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