Australia’s Usman Khawaja in motion on day 2 of the primary Ashes Test in opposition to England in Edgbaston on June 17, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Shaun Botterill
Opener Usman Khawaja revived Australia’s fortunes with an unbeaten 84 in opposition to England by tea on day two of the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on June 17.
Australia was 188-4, nonetheless 205 runs behind England however feeling a bit of happier after the morning dismissals of top-ranked take a look at batter Marnus Labuschagne for a golden duck and second-ranked Steve Smith for 16.
With Khawaja was allrounder Cameron Green, who survived a stumping likelihood to be 21 not out in one other promising partnership for Australia of 40 runs and counting.
After dropping three wickets within the morning, Australia dug in after lunch. Khawaja and Travis Head paired up for 81 runs.
Head plundered Moeen Ali specifically, although the England spinner had the final say by ending the harmful partnership.
Khawaja and Head, the third-ranked take a look at batter, sprayed the ball above, between and over England’s fielders to provide the hosts a style of their very own ‘Bazball’ drugs.
England’s Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia’s David Warner.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
The pair got here collectively at 67-3 and took the guests to 148, rising the run fee by round a run an over principally at Ali’s expense, till Head, on 50, superior as soon as too usually in opposition to the spinner to ship the ball to Zak Crawley at midwicket.
Ali has figures of 1-82 from 18 overs — together with being hit for six 3 times, twice by Khawaja — however went into the match figuring out England captain Ben Stokes was pleased to again a bowler all the time on the assault even at the price of being costly.
After dismissing Head, Ali deserved Green’s wicket two balls later however Jonny Bairstow spilled a transparent stumping likelihood in what has in any other case been an outstanding take a look at for the wicketkeeper-batter.
Australia went to lunch on 78-3 after David Warner self-destructed and England seamer Stuart Broad dismissed Labuschagne off the subsequent ball in additional bowler-friendly situations.
Stokes trapped Smith leg earlier than on lunch simply when Australia appeared to be recovering.
