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Usman Khawaja once again rose to the occasion and struck a magnificent century to keep Australia in good stead despite early jolts as England bowlers left frustrated on Day 2 of the Ashes 2023 opener at Edgbaston on Saturday (June 17).
When the chips were down Khawaja paired with Alex Carey and steered Australia to a commanding 311/5 at the end of Day 2's play. When Australia were faltering at 220/5, the duo team's boat and stitched together a 91-run partnership for the sixth wicket. By the end of Day's play Khawaja was unbeaten at 126 off 279 with Carey by his side who too was unscathed at 52 off 80 as Australia still trail by 82 runs. While Khawaja cracked 14 fours and two sixes, Carey belted seven boundaries and a maximum.
Khawaja cracked his 15th Test century and apparently his first ton on English soil. The 36-year-old also shattered 139-year-old record as it was the first instance in these many years that a non Australia born opener scored a century in away Ashes match. Notably, back in 1884 Kennington, London-born Australian batter Percy McDonnell scored century in the Kennington Oval. The Islamabad, Pakistan-born Khawaja brought up his century on the 199th ball.
In reply to England's 393/8 dec, things didn't pan out well on Day 2 for Australia who resumed with an overnight score of 14/0 with David Warner and Khawaja intact on the crease. Warner did survive the tricky 20-minute session against Stuart Broad on Day 1 but to only become star English pacer's bunny once again on Day 2. On the first ball of the 11th over Warner fell for 9 off 27 as this was the 15th time when Broad dismissed the star Australian opener in the Ashes encounter which initiated in 2013.
Broad didn't settle with Warner's dismissal as on the very next ball he grabbed Marnus Labuschagne's wicket, who went for a golden duck to leave Australia struggling for 29/2.
Warner and Labuschagne's dismissals left Australia struggling at 29/2. In came Steve Smith (16 off 59) then tried to make things better for Australia as he with the opening partner Khawaja added 38 runs in 16.3 overs. But in the 27th over England skipper Ben Stokes produced a stunning in-swinger which missed Smith's bat and the batter was given out LBW which left Australia in trouble yet again at 67/3.
Travis Head (50 off 63) then took up the mantle of scoring runs and scored a fiery fifty. The star Australian batter looked at ease and stitched a crucial 81-run partnership with Khawaja for the fourth wicket before getting trapped by Moeen Ali in the 46th over. Green too showed intent to score runs and contributed with a sedate 38 off 68 before Moeen gave him the marching orders in the 68th over. Australia were in trouble as half of their side was packed at 220. But Khawaja found a perfect partner in Carey and the duo kept mustering runs to keep Australia in good stead. Khawaja, who yet again turned Australia's savior, completed his century and delivered when his team needed him the most and proved his batting prowess. Carey and Khawaja kept rotating strike to frustrate England bowlers till the close of Day 2's play.
Ben Stokes-led England dominated the opening session with three early wickets but couldn't really capitalise on the kind of start they got. Moeen, Broad did manage to take two wickets apiece but rest of the bowlers looked clueless throughout the day. Ollie Robinson and veteran James Anderson remained wicketless on Day 2.
Earlier on Day 1, England had declared their innings after scoring 393/8, with Joe Root slamming a hundred. Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow amassed fifties for the hosts.
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