Jun 18, 2023
Usman Khawaja ended his decade-long wait for a maiden Test hundred in England as he led an Australia recovery in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Image Source: Getty Images
Australia were struggling at 67-3 after Stuart Broad struck twice in two balls
Image Source: Getty Images
Broad removed David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne before England captain Ben Stokes captured the prize wicket of star batsman Steve Smith.
Image Source: AP
But they had recovered to 311-5 at stumps on the second day of this five-match series, with opening batsman Khawaja 126 not out and Alex Carey unbeaten on 52 in an unbroken stand of 91.
Image Source: AFP
Australia were still trailing by 82 runs
Image Source: AP
Australia captain Pat Cummins insisted Thursday his recently-crowned World Test champions had no need to emulate England's ultra-aggressive 'Bazball' style
Image Source: Getty Images
Cummins said: "Somewhere our batters might take 200 balls to get a hundred and that's totally fine."
Image Source: Getty Images
His words were underlined by Khawaja's 199-ball hundred -- his 15th in Tests but seventh in 18 matches since he was recalled last year.
Image Source: AP
Khawaja completed his century with a late-cut four off Stokes with the often understated left-hander throwing his bat in sheer joy.
Image Source: AFP
Khawaja, who has batted in several different berths, now averages a colossal 68.72 as an opener -- the highest by anyone in to have batted in a minimum 20 Test innings in the position.
Image Source: Reuters