Ashes 2023: Usman Khawaja stands tall, takes Australia within touching distance of England with a ton

Ashes 2023: Australian opening batter Usman Khawaja stood tall against the English bowling line-up as he smoked his 15th Test hundred to take Australia within touching distance of England at the end of Day 2 in the first Ashes Test. Starting Day 2 unscathed on 14, Australia ended the day on a high note at 311/5. They now trail England by 82 runs and have two well set batters in the middle.

Australia’s batters put up a good show against England as the likes of Khawaja, Travis Head and unbeaten Alex Carey scored fifty or fifty-plus scores. For England, their star performers of the day were Stuart Broad and Moeen Ali, both of whom scalped two wickets each. Khawaja and Carey are unbeaten on 126 and 52, respectively.

Detailed Day report

The Day began with a few maiden overs and then Stuart Broad got his favourite batter David Warner for 9 as he bowled him out. Broad got another one as he sent back Marnus Labuschagne back to the hut on a golden duck. The English crowd roared high and England were on top with Aussies reeling at 29/2.

But Steve Smith and Khawaja stabilised the ship. The duo saw off the hard time but as we approached Lunch on Day 2, Ben Stokes got Smith out LBW. Stokes, who bowled after a long time was in pure joy to get the big fish. Australia were at 78/3 at Lunch.

Khawaja was joined by Travis Head. Fresh from his WTC Final century, Head displayed yet another fight. He was targeted with short-balls but he kept playing them away. While Khawaja targeted his bowlers smasrtly, Head got to his fifty in 60 balls. However, Moeen Ali got him out. Cameron Green came and he survived an early stumping but once he got going, he made crucial 38 runs. 

Carey and Head then joined hands and the duo stitched a stand of 91. Carey has gone past 50 and the duo will now look to cut down the trail quickly and get on lead.

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