England vs Australia Test Cricket Score, Ashes 2023: Usman ...

Opener Usman Khawaja (126 not out) scored a stunning hundred to revive Australia’s Ashes fortune on Saturday, guiding the visitors to 311 for 5 at stumps on day two of the opening Test against England at Edgbaston. Khawaja's first century in England was the highlight of the second day's play in Birmingham as he stitched three substantial partnerships to leave Australia just 82 runs behind hosts England in the first innings.

Australia have consolidated their position on Day 2 and will be eager to establish control on Day 3 which is considered the moving day of a Test match. England need some quick wickets to wrench back some control in this match as we look forward to some more excitement. The action continues on Sunday 18th June as we shall have Day 3 of this first Ashes Test which promises to be equally entertaining. The first ball will be bowled at 3.30 pm IST (10.00 am GMT) but do join us early for the build-up. Until then, take care and goodbye!

Australia started the day with all their wickets intact but suffered an early blow as David Warner was dismissed by Stuart Broad for the 15th time and things got better when he dismissed the number one Test batter on the very next delivery to shift the momentum in England’s favor. Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith looked to steady the ship but Ben Stokes dismissed Smith against the run of play and made the first session go completely England’s way. The second session was tilted towards Australia as a quickfire half-century from Travis Head got some life into the Aussie inning. Head could not make it big and was dismissed by Moeen Ali as he looked to keep playing his shots. The sun came out as the day progressed making the conditions better and it become easier for the batters to play their shots. The hosts have lacked the cutting edge and have not got enough purchase from the wicket but credit cannot be taken away from the Australian batters.

SESSION SUMMARY - 123 runs, 33 overs, 1 wicket. Australia have grown through the day and after having a poor first session suddenly find themselves in a good position courtesy of their effort in the second and the final session of Day 2. They have piled on the runs and now trail England by only 82 runs as they will look to get the upper hand on Day 3. They came out to bat after Tea looking to be more positive and Cameron Green looked to play his shots to help his side get some momentum. Usman Khawaja reached his 15th Test century as he added 72 runs for the fifth wicket with Green who was dismissed by Moeen Ali with a peach of a delivery. Alex Carey continued to contribute coming in at number seven and kept the tempo up as he powered towards a commanding half-century. The partnership between the two southpaws has reached 91 runs in 164 balls and if this continues, it could prove to be troublesome for England.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Continues to bowl full at the stumps. Carey pushes it nicely toward mid-off. That will be Stumps on Day 2.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Another full ball on off. Carey prods and blocks into the off-side.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full on the middle and leg. Carey bunts it toward mid-on.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full again, outside off, driven to mid-off for none.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full on off. Carey prods and defends into covers.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Tossed up on the middle and leg. Carey gets low and paddles it to the fine leg region for a couple.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Full and sliding into the pads. Khawaja works it to the man at square leg.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, On a good length, and outside off. Left alone by Khawaja.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Back of a length delivery angled down the leg. Khawaja lets it pass through to Bairstow.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Full and angled into the middle and leg. Khawaja flicks it to short mid-wicket.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Goes fuller this time and just outside off. Khawaja defends on the front foot.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Length ball on middle and off. Khawaja defends onto the pitch.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full on the leg peg. Carey reverse sweeps again to point.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Pulls the length back and spins past the outside edge of Carey.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full again just outside off. Carey reverse sweeps it to backward point.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full and just outside off. Carey pushes it to short cover.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Full on off. Carey prods and blocks.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, FOUR! FIFTY for CAREY!  Edged Away! Tosses it up and spins away outside off. Carey gets forward to drive but gets a thick edge that goes between the keeper and the first slip for four runs. 

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Full ball again on off. Khawaja defends on the front foot.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Full on off. Khawaja blocks it onto the pitch.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Full around the middle and off stump line. Khawaja gets forward to block it away but plays the wrong line and takes a thud on the pad.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Length ball on the pads. Carey works it to deep backward square leg for one.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Short and wide outside off. Carey mistimes the cut toward mid-off.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Good length ball on middle and off. Carey defends it to mid-on.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Flatter on off. Khawaja stays back and defends.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Slower through the air on a length outside off. Khawaja hangs back and blocks.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Flat and quicker at the stumps. Khawaja turns it to short mid-wicket.

Moeen Ali to Usman Khawaja, Flatter on off. Khawaja hangs back and blocks.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, Short and wide outside off. Carey cuts it through covers for one.

Moeen Ali to Alex Carey, FOUR! Well Played! A fraction short at the stumps. Carey rocks back and pulls it to the deep mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja, Fullish-length angling across the batter. Khawaja shoulders his arms.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Full and sliding down the leg. Carey clips off the pad toward short fine leg for a leg bye.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Back of a length again, outside off. Carey reaches for it and cuts it to point.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Back of a length outside off. Carey hangs back and steers it to point.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, FOUR! CRUNCHED! Overpitched outside off. Carey leans into it and creams the drive perfectly through extra covers for a boundary.

Ollie Robinson to Alex Carey, Fuller length ball slanting across Carey who lets it go.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, Full ball and a hint of swing outside off. Left alone by Khawaja.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, On a good length, slanting across the batter. Khawaja shoulders his arms on it.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, Back of a length again on the pads. Khawaja clips it to the deep square leg region for a couple.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, Back of a length angled across the batter. Khawaja stands tall and punches it to short cover.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, Length ball coming into the middle and leg. Khawaja blocks into the leg side.

James Anderson to Usman Khawaja, On a good length and outside off. Left alone by Khawaja.

Stuart Broad to Usman Khawaja, Bowls this on a length and into the pads. Usman Khawaja tucks this towards deep backward square leg and takes a run to keep strike. 

Stuart Broad to Usman Khawaja, Goes full once again and attacks the stumps. Usman Khawaja blocks this towards cover. 

Stuart Broad to Usman Khawaja, FOUR LEG BYES! Stuart Broad strays onto the pads this time on a fullish length, Usman Khawaja looks to play this fine but misses. The ball goes off the pads towards fine leg for four leg byes. 

Stuart Broad to Usman Khawaja, FOUR! Usman Khawaja slaps this away and the odd boundaries keep coming for Australia! This is bowled slightly back of a length and outside off. Usman Khawaja uses a short-arm jab to pull this towards deep mid-wicket for four runs.