England Foiled by Usman Khawaja’s Century in The Ashes 2023

In a gripping second day of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, England was left frustrated as Usman Khawaja, from the Australian team, played a masterful innings, scoring an unbeaten century. Khawaja’s brilliant knock of 126 guided Australia to 311-5, trailing England by only 82 runs.

Despite several missed opportunities, England’s bowlers showcased their skill in the morning session, taking advantage of favorable overhead conditions. They reduced Australia to 67-3 in response to England’s first-innings total of 393-8 declared. Stuart Broad’s battle with David Warner resulted in Warner’s dismissal, followed by a stunning catch by Jonny Bairstow to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne.

Ben Stokes, proving his fitness to bowl, claimed the wicket of Steve Smith, while Khawaja held firm at the other end. He built partnerships with Travis Head, who contributed 50 runs, and Cameron Green, scoring 126 and 72 runs respectively. Moeen Ali, in his return to Test cricket, dismissed both Head and Green. However, England’s missed chances, including Bairstow’s dropped catch and missed stumping, allowed Khawaja to form an unbroken partnership of 91 runs with Alex Carey, who was also given a reprieve by Bairstow.

By the end of the day, Australia had positioned themselves to potentially take the first-innings lead, a crucial advantage on a dry pitch that is expected to deteriorate further as the match progresses.

The second day’s play showcased a more strategic battle compared to the frantic pace of the previous day. Australia opted for a defensive approach, frustrating England’s aggressive tactics. England constantly rotated their bowlers, with Harry Brook’s medium pace being utilized early on. Broad’s dismissal of Warner was followed by jubilant celebrations for Labuschagne’s wicket. The crowd at Edgbaston erupted in cheers when Stokes dismissed Smith, and Moeen played a vital role with his timely interventions.

Despite the placid nature of the pitch, Khawaja stood tall and displayed his composure throughout his innings. He elegantly dispatched short deliveries from England’s pace bowlers and confidently attacked Moeen’s bowling, hitting two sixes. Khawaja’s century, his first Ashes hundred in England, was celebrated fervently, culminating in his joyful gesture of throwing his bat in the air. At the end of the day, he shared a touching moment with his daughter during the news conference.

England’s impressive performance in the morning session was dampened by missed opportunities and Khawaja’s resilient batting. The four mistakes, including Bairstow’s errors, might prove costly for England. Khawaja’s determination and presence in partnerships with other batsmen ensured Australia’s fightback amidst the chaos.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan expressed concerns about England’s missed chances and their physical condition, as this was only the beginning of a demanding five-match series over six weeks. Phil Tufnell, an ex-England spinner, highlighted the importance for England to secure a lead in the match to prevent Nathan Lyon, the Australian spinner, from capitalizing on their positive approach.

Overall, the second day of The Ashes 2023 proved to be a captivating battle between the two teams, setting the stage for an enthralling continuation of the Test match.

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More about Ashes Test

• Scorecard
• Usman Khawaja’s century highlights
• England vs Australia Ashes Test series
• Edgbaston cricket ground
• Stuart Broad’s no-ball incident
• Jonny Bairstow’s missed chances
• Ben Stokes’ performance in the Test match
• Moeen Ali’s return to Test cricket
• David Warner’s dismissal by Stuart Broad
• Steve Smith’s dismissal by Ben Stokes
• Travis Head’s partnership with Usman Khawaja
• Cameron Green’s dismissal by Moeen Ali
• Alex Carey’s crucial innings
• Nathan Lyon’s potential impact in the match