Carberry in debt to England’s arch-enemy Warne as Yorkshire trio are put under Ashes pressure

Handed an opening role against Australia A in Hobart, Carberry presented a compelling case for a Test comeback with his maiden England century as he and Alastair Cook produced a monumental statement of intent.

Carberry made an unbeaten 153 as he was surprisingly preferred at the top of the order ahead of Root.

Cook’s unbeaten 154 in his first innings of the tour after missing the opening match with a sore back was also chanceless as an England pair batted through the day for the first time since 1998.

The reward was a triple-century stand, something achieved previously just twice in Tests by any England openers, on the way to an unbroken 318 by stumps at Bellerive Oval. It was England’s highest opening stand since a Test alliance between Cyril Washbrook and Len Hutton 65 years ago.

They had to come through a testing first hour against the new ball but otherwise made the most of relatively easy pickings, in conditions thousands of miles away from what they can expect in the first Test in Brisbane.

Carberry was outscored initially by his captain but – after taking 140 balls over his first 50 – needed only another 59 for his second, hitting 17 fours and a six in his hundred.

Cook’s 183-ball century was more evenly-paced and contained some trademark cuts and back-foot forces as well as two cover-drives on the up among his 12 boundaries.

The England captain had acknowledged on the eve of this second tour match the non-negotiable requirement to avoid losing early wickets in this Ashes campaign.

His team overcame that frailty to beat Australia 3-0 at home last summer, but Cook practised what he had preached at the first time of asking as he seeks to follow up the prolific run-making which underpinned England’s 2010-11 success in Australia.

Carberry was at ease as he staked his claim to just a second Test cap to go with his previous appearance as deputy for the rested Andrew Strauss in Chittagong three-and-a-half years ago.

After his 78 in Perth last week, the 33-year-old left-hander retained his accustomed position as opener while Root was listed to come in No 5 and may now have to settle for the No 6 spot in the Ashes, which both Bairstow and, to a lesser extent, the uncapped Ballance will have had their eyes on.

Carberry may well be feeling a debt of gratitude to Shane Warne.

The opener, whose hard-working career path took him first from his native Surrey to Kent and finally to Hampshire, believes the positive influence of Warne as his captain on the south coast gave him the freedom and confidence to establish himself and eventually push for higher honours.

Warne has hardly made himself popular with Carberry’s England team-mates in recent days, having reissued his critique of Cook’s “negative” and “boring” captaincy and questioned the wisdom of persisting with Root as a Test opener in Australia.

It is hardly likely to have been at Warne’s specific suggestion that Carberry partnered Cook at the top of the order but the 33-year-old spoke glowingly of the help he has received from Australia’s record-breaking leg-spinner.

“I think Shane Warne is basically the reason why I actually got a chance to play Test cricket,” he said.

“I was a young guy, a little bit lost in county cricket. I came to Hampshire – and from day one, he made me feel very much at home and gave me the backing every young player needs.

“He allowed me to play a brand of cricket I wanted to play.

“I think he was very influential in terms of me doing what I’ve done, then getting the chance to play for England a few years on.”

It is a mentoring role which has endured, too.

“Whenever I’ve caught up with Shane, he’s always had very kind things to say about my game,” added Carberry. “He’s someone I still keep in contact with, even though he might be overseas. He’s always been a great friend to me.”